Dr. Eugene Frederick Howden, DDS, MS

Dr. Eugene (Gene) Frederick Howden, Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the age of 83, after a long and dignified struggle with Parkinson’s Disease.

The second of Jack Frederick and Sara (Harbottle) Howden’s three sons, Gene, was born in Muskegon, MI, on February 24, 1942. When he was five, his family moved to Winter Park, FL, where Gene spent his formative years and developed lifelong friends. He played Little League and Babe Ruth baseball, and before graduating from Winter Park High School, distinguished himself as an outstanding student and athlete, playing varsity baseball and basketball and taking up golf. An avid UNC Tar Heel fan, he attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where he met Linda Moritz Howden, his devoted wife of 59 years. 

After completing undergraduate prerequisites in three years at UNC, he entered the UNC School of Dentistry, from which he received his DDS in 1966. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and Delta Sigma Delta dental fraternity. Three years of active duty with the United States Naval Dental Corps in San Diego and Pearl Harbor followed. Gene returned to the UNC Dental School to receive a Masters in Pediatric Dentistry in 1971 while continuing his service in the US Naval Reserve. After completing his Masters, he resigned his Naval Commission as a Lt. Commander, was elected to Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) dental academic fraternity, and joined the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the UNC Dental School as an Assistant Professor. 

In December 1979, Gene opened his private practice in Chapel Hill, where he served his patients for 28 years. He was widely recognized for his professionalism, kindness, and congeniality, and he was respected by his peers, patients, and their parents. During this time, Gene also served as a consultant to the North Carolina Medicaid program, overseeing the compliance to and enforcement of Medicaid regulations by dental providers across the state in partnership with the North Carolina Attorney General and the FBI.

Gene was a dedicated teacher of dentistry throughout his career. Popular with his students, he was honored by them on multiple occasions. He was an active member of local, state, regional, and national professional organizations in which he held numerous leadership roles and for which he taught numerous continuing education courses. His extensive research in the field of pediatric dentistry led to several co-authored publications in dental journals. He was a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and was affiliated with the University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, until his retirement in 2007. He received the Richard F. Hunt Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching early in his career and The Distinguished Service Award from the UNC-CH School of Dentistry in 2012.

Leadership came naturally to Gene, who served as President of the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club where he was selected as a Paul Harris Fellow and participated in three Rotary dental mission trips to Haiti and Honduras. He was President, Director, and Campaign Chair of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro United Fund, President, Psi Home Association of Sigma Nu Fraternity, and Dental Coordinator for Adopt a Day Care of Durham-Orange County. As a member of Chapel of the Cross, he led a dental mission trip to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. 

Gene was an avid golfer and a member of the Chapel Hill Country Club and the Country Club of North Carolina. He and his wife retired to Pinehurst in 2007, where Gene enjoyed many rounds of golf with the Ayatollahs, the Admirals, and the Tuesday Travel Group. 

In addition to his wife, Gene is survived by his son Jeffrey Brisbin Howden and his wife Nancy; daughter Kimberly Louise Hodulik and her husband Paul; and four grandchildren: Frank Howden, Charles Howden, Stephen Hodulik, and Sydney Hodulik; his brothers William (Phyllis) Howden and Lance (Gale) Howden; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Gene’s life will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill, NC. The family will receive friends in the Parish Hall at the church following a private interment in the church garden.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Emmanuel Episcopal Church or The First Health Foundation (FBO Palliative and Hospice Care).

The family would like to express its gratitude to Dr. Walter Morris III, Dr. Richard Murrow, Sondra Williamson, NP, First Health Hospice, Shannon Cummings, De Horton, Matthew Bahr, Michael, Cherelle, Jasmine, and many friends for their loving care and support.

Online condolences can be made at PinesFunerals.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Powell Funeral Home of Aberdeen, NC.