William "Bill" Howe

William “Bill” Howe, at the age of 88, passed away peacefully in his home on June 27, 2024. There will be an end of life celebration to be announced.

Bill was born in Jamestown, ND Nov 16, 1935. He was the son of John Howe M.D and Annice Borland Howe. As a young person, he was sent to Subiaco Catholic boarding school where he spent his school years being mentored by Benedictine Fathers. For the rest of his life, he would tell stories about his time there. After the early passing of his father, the family moved to San Diego, CA where he graduated from Imperial Beach High School in 1953. Shortly after, he joined the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman attached to the U.S.M.C. While serving, he realized that medicine was not for him and with an Honorable Discharge as an E-5 from the U.S Navy; he started pursuing a career in law enforcement. Bill graduated from the Oregon State Police academy in 1959 and was transferred to Baker City, OR. While stationed in Baker City, OR, he met the love of his life and lifelong partner Clare Henderson. They were married December 11, 1960, had four children and settled in Eugene, OR. Bill wore many career hats in his life, Oregon State Trooper, Eugene Police Officer, local truck driver, and truck owner-operator. He retired from Interstate Distributors Trucking in 2012 at the age of 76.

He loved the Willamette Valley and was an avid outdoorsman; he spent many fall hours with his family on clear cuts chasing black tail deer, spring and summer days fly fishing on local rivers and winter days watching storms at the Oregon Coast. He had an encyclopedia knowledge of gun makes, models and calibers that he would freely share with anyone who would listen and right up to the day he passed, he was known far and wide as one of the best of the old school story tellers. His stories, lively, vivid, and rarely fact checked, were always appreciated!

Bill is survived by his Wife Clare of 64 years; his four children; John, Melissa, Richard and James; his ten grandchildren, twenty four great grandchildren and his much loved Dog Reuben. 

He was loved and will be missed.