Forrest Wayne Howell

Forrest W Howell, age, 98 passed away on November 9, 2018 in West Palm Beach, FL. He was past Commander of the Dept. of Florida, Ex-Prisoners of War. Forrest and Helen, his wife of 57 1/2 years, were very active AmEXPow members, having organized the Florida First Coast Chapter, as well as the now defunct St. Augustine Chapter. Both regularly attended all Florida Board Meetings and the state and national conventions until Helen's lengthy illness (cancer) and subsequent death June 30, 2000, and Forrest's deteriorating health condition. Commander Howell was a twice wounded combat veteran who received two Purple Hearts. He became a POW in Germany when FW-190's shot down his B-17 on August 15, 1944. He parachuted out.

A real estate broker and former federal employee, his last position was that of Florida Area Director for the U.S Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Prior to that he was the Veterans Administration's Chief of Property Management for Florida. He wrote a book about his POW experiences - Whispers Of Death- which the Library of Congress recorded for his talking book topics for the blind and physically handicapped. The book was re-published in November 2002. Another book he wrote- Shakedown and The Whistleblower was published in 2003. For a number of years, he served in the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary and as a Volunteer Hearing Officer for the State Attorney's office.

Survivors are his daughter, Susan Duff (Douglas) of Lake Worth, Florida and five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Forrest was a charter member of the San Jose Church of Christ , Military Order of The Purple Heart Jacksonville Chapter 524, and the First Coast Chapter, AmEXPow. He also belonged to several other veterans and fraternal organizations.

A Funeral Service will be on Friday, November 16, 2018 at 10:00am with Minister Mike Olive, officiating at the San Jose Church of Christ, 6233 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32217. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery.

Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family