William Howard Gwin

Tragically, a few days before Bill’s first birthday, his father was murdered by a 14-year-old boy who was deemed mentally deficient but not insane. When Bill was in the fifth grade, he and his mother moved to Salem to be near extended family. When he was in high school, his mother married Salem attorney Howard Roos, formerly of Brooklyn, NY. Howard was influential in developing Bill’s interest in ballet, opera and classical music.

Bill graduated from Salem High School in 1953 and joined the U.S. Navy. He served as a photographer’s mate airman at US Naval Air Station in Brunswick, Maine, where he drew cartoon caricatures of friends and their life aboard the air station. Several of his cartoons were published in the air station’s publication, Sky Anchor. He won the All-Navy Comic Cartoon Contest and received a handsome trophy of a sailor and two congratulatory letters from the Pentagon. During his deployment Bill enjoyed the beautiful landscape of Malta. Following three years of active duty, Bill moved to Portland, Oregon and attended Portland State, Northwestern School of Law and Lewis & Clark College. He was a grain trader for Cargill before starting his 35-year career as a claims manager at Allstate Insurance Company. He retired in 1999.

A very talented artist, Bill’s passion was oil painting, but he was also excellent at watercolors and pen and pencil drawings. For many years he taught painting classes Saturday mornings at Westmoreland Union Manor and evening classes for adults at various schools in Clackamas County. In 2009 his entry won honorable mention in International Artist magazine’s lighthouse illustrating contest. Other interests were reading, World II history and trains. Two of his paintings of locomotives were displayed at the World Trade Center in Portland and in the board room of a large business. He entered paintings in the Clackamas County Fair and won several 1st class ribbons.

Bill had a great sense of humor and a zest for life and was always prepared to tell a good story, or two or three. A devout Christian, he was never shy about sharing his faith. He led Bible studies and mentored young people and men at churches he attended in the Portland Metro area.

Bill met the love of his life, Jane Connole, in November, 1984 when he asked her to dance. They were married the following June. He is survived by his wife; his children from his prior marriage, Anita Williams (John Yingling); Scott (Nancy) and Diana Huey; stepdaughters, Christine (Ray) Eckersley and Melissa Kelly; grandchildren, Austin (Delaney) Williams, Ian Gwin, Samantha Huey, Jacob (Reilly) Huey, Jonah Huey, Matthew Huey, Justin (Valerie) Eckersley, Madeline (Alexander) Hopkins, Ethan Kelly and Grayson Kelly; half-sister, Karen Roos; and cousins Chuck Sides and Jean Kangiser. His two cats, Max and Fritz, also survive him.

A celebration of life is planned for June 4 at 2:00 p.m. at Young’s Funeral Home in Tigard. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Bill’s name may be sent to Providence Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 13679, Portland, OR 97213.