William "Bill" Francis Howell

William F. Howell passed away at home surrounded by his family and loving wife of 61 years, Nancy. Beloved father of David Charles Howell and Christine Dugger; devoted grandfather of 3, step-grandfather of 1 and great grandfather of 1.

Bill was born in San Francisco on June 25, 1924. He survived the attack on Pearl Harbor on the bridge of the USS Phoenix at the age of 17, is the last Pearl Harbor survivor in El Dorado County and gave talks at High Schools about the attack. After enlisting in the US Army, Bill attended Army language school for Russian and Vietnamese and was an Army interrogator in Munich, Germany for 6 years. After serving as an intelligence officer for 1 year in Vietnam he attended navigation school in Ft. Eustis, VA for 1 year and served as a US Army tugboat skipper in Vietnam for another year, retiring as a W2.

After retiring from the military, he completed his education at Sacramento State at the age of 53. Bill worked at Juvenile Hall and later was a Bailiff of the Placerville Superior Court. His last job was volunteering at McClelland AFB, standing watches for the Coast Guard Search and Rescue. He was a much loved man. His niece once said, “Everyone should have an Uncle Bill”.

This amazing man will have a Celebration of Life with his family and friends on Friday, December 12, 2014 at 11:00 am at the Chapel of the Pines Funeral Home, 2855 Cold Springs Road, Placerville. Contributions in Bill’s name may be made to Snowline Hospice of El Dorado County, 2520 Pleasant Valley Rd., Diamond Springs, CA 95619 or wwwsnowlinehospice.org. Friends may sign a guestbook and leave condolences at www.chapelofthepinesfunerals.com.