David S. Howell Jr.

David S. Howell, Jr. was born October 18, 1911, almost 100 years ago, and died peacefully at Hope Hospice House in Cape Coral on July 29 , 2011. He and his beloved wife Jane (1919-2010) developed the Lake Arrowhead and Laurel Estates communities in North Fort Myers.

He was born in Wisconsin to a farming family. They moved to Detroit at the early years of the automotive era, in the 1920s. He was educated at Cass Technical High School and at Lawrence Tech Institute in Detroit. He started his career as a welder for Fruehauf Trailer Company during W.W. II, and later became an engineer at the same company. Later he was a partner in Arlington Aluminum Company. Throughout his life he was a businessman and an inventor.

He raised daughters Sue and Nancy in Michigan, with his first wife, Margaret Sue Julian. He married Jane Laughlin (Heck) in the 1960s, and they bought 100 acres on Tamiami Trail across from the Shell Factory. David Howell was involved in all aspects of constructing the manufactured home communities, laying out the streets and the lots, digging the central lake, and building the club houses. They lived in the Parks for many years and made many wonderful friends there. Later they lived in Waterway Estates, surrounded by family and Roxy, their Papillion dog. They celebrated fifty years of marriage in 2010.

David Howell is survived by daughters Sue Sobeck, Nancy Howell and Judy Gagnon; grandchildren Dan Heck, Linda Sobeck, David Lee, Dodie Berfield and James O'Brien. His great-grandchildren include Lisa Snyder, Melanie Sobeck, Sacha Marth, Monique Sobeck, Nicole and Zachary Heck, Caique, Kevin and Ashley O'Brien; and great-great-grandchildren Chase and Cayli Johnson. The family believes no finer man lived, and his 99 plus years were a blessing to us all.

The family thanks the Cape Coral Hope Hospice House for their compassionate care of David Howell. Condolences can be sent on-line or by mail c/o Nancy Howell, 1728 Lakeview Blvd., North Fort Myers, 33903. No flowers, please.

Arrangements under the direction of Lee Memorial Park Funeral Home Cemetery & Crematory, 12777 State Road 82, Fort Myers, Florida 33913.