March 7, 1965 — April 21, 2012

Kirsten Wilhelm Howard, 47, of Mission Viejo, Calif., passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Kirsten was born on March 7, 1965, in Dayton, Ohio, to Charles F. Wilhelm and Leslie M. Harris Wilhelm. She attended high school in both Lompoc, Calif., and Seoul, Korea. Following high school, she attended Oregon State University, graduated and later earned her Juris Doctorate from California Northwestern University School of Law. Kirsten worked for Swift Engineering in San Clemente, Quest Software in Aliso Viejo, and most recently for United Health Care in Irvine.

Kirsten met the love of her life, Allan Howard, in the summer of 1998, and they married in 2001.

She was extremely talented, with an artful, creative eye. Her hobbies included working with stained glass, mosaic tiles, fashion design and gardening. She had a great business sense as well, maintaining the records for her husband’s business.

She is survived by her husband, Allan Howard; her parents; her sister, Karen Guthrie; her brother, Fritz Wilhelm; her niece, Elizabeth; nephews Jeremy (and Jeremy’s wife, Andrea) and Aaron; two sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law; and many friends. Kirsten was a loving wife, daughter, sister and friend. She is greatly missed.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 21, at Fairhaven Memorial Service Chapel in Mission Viejo.

Those who knew Kirsten, and wish to, can make a donation in her name to Corvallis Community Outreach, 865 N.W. Reiman Ave., Corvallis, OR 97330.