William Edmund Howley

Edmund Howley, 96, of Fort Myers, died peacefully on 2-13-2018 with loved ones at his side. Ed grew up in Middletown, CT, and, after serving in WWII as a Marine Master Sergeant in America’s battles of the South Pacific, including Guam, returned to marry Charlotte Lennendoll of Bristol, CT. While playing semi-professional basketball, he earned an associate’s degree in accounting, which he used for over thirty years to help run MacDermid Chemical Company. He and Charlotte remained deeply in love for 51 years, raising six children, participating actively in St. Joseph’s church in Bristol and bringing joy to countless visitors welcomed to their cottage at Green Hill Beach, RI. In 1990 they retired to Fort Myers, where Ed served on Pine Lakes’ Board of Directors, chaired its Health Committee and founded the Pine Lakes chapter of FISH, addressing a variety of local health and disability needs. When Charlotte was diagnosed with Altzeimers, Ed cared for her, often alone, and began a support group for caregivers. Ed was lucky enough to spend the last 18 years of his life with a second remarkable woman, Shirley Kubie, who had also lost her life-love, Don Kubie. Ed most cherished his God, his Catholicism, his family, his friends and his service to his country. He will be remembered best for his kindness, his humor, his love of dancing and his sense of priorities, valuing the way people treat one another above the size of their bank accounts. Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Charlotte Lennendoll Howley; his daughter, Dawn Howley; his siblings, Eleanor Howley Andrews and Joseph, Francis and Don Howley. He is survived by his dearly loved best friend, Shirley Kubie of Fort Myers; sister Anne Wilson (Ray) of CT.; daughters Coleen Howley and Cheryl Maghini (Jerry) of CT.; daughter Pam Vann of CA.; sons Edmund “Chip” Howley (Maureen) of CT. and Kevin Howley (Tracy Harty) of ME; as well as 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Special thanks to the wonderful folks at Hope Health Care of Cape Coral for the excellent care and support. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hope Hospice, 2430 Diplomat Parkway East, Cape Coral, FL. 33909 Memorial mass will be held at St. Therese Church in Fort Myers at 11:00 AM on February 21st, 2018. A second service will be held in Connecticut later this spring.