Walter Howard, 88

Walter Henry Howard, age 88, of Hudson, and formerly of River Falls, passed away on March 5, 2011, at the Christian Community Home.

He was born one of seven children to George A. and Edith M. (Stone) Howard on May 31, 1922, in Oconomowoc, Wis. Walter honorably served his country in the Army Glider Corps and then in the U.S. Navy. On Dec. 20, 1946, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Mae Bowe in Dousman, Wis. They were blessed with four children: Tim, Holly, Nancy and Todd.

Walter’s true passion was flying; it was often said that he would rather fly than eat! Walter worked as an airline pilot for 32 years with Northwest Airlines; for the last 10 years of his career he flew internationally as captain of a 747. Upon his retirement he continued to fly for Air Care International, serving veterans in need of medical transport. He bought, rebuilt, and sold airplanes and he would fly family and friends up to Canada to fish. His second passion was fishing. When he wasn’t busy with those activities, Walter maintained memberships with the Masonic Lodge of River Falls, the American Legion of River Falls, and the United Methodist Church in Hudson.

Walter was preceded in death by five of his siblings: Virginia Roe, Marian Cramer, Richard Howard, Robert Howard, and Betty Ashworth.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Dorothy; children, Tim Howard (Suzanne) of Apple Valley, Minn., Holly Howard Marti (Felix) of Ridgway, Colo., Nancy “Anne” Howard of Minneapolis, Minn., and Todd Howard of Minneapolis; four grandchildren, Erik Klausen of Las Vegas, Nev., Jamie Howard of Los Angeles, Calif., Merete Klausen of Minneapolis, and Chad Howard of Rosemount, Minn.; his sister, Ruth Eckert of Maryland; many nieces, nephews and extended family.

A memorial gathering will be held to celebrate Walter’s life from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson, 715-386-3725. Interment will be private at the Kinnickinnic Cemetery in River Falls.

Services have been entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Countryside Crematory, 715-386-3725, www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com.

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