In Memoriam – Eddie Howell

AFA is saddened to announced the passing of Eddie Howell, past president of the International Fence Industry Association and cherished friend of many AFA members.

Eddie Howell   
September 8, 1926 – February 1, 2021

William Edward Howell was born on Sept. 8th, 1926 in Roanoke, VA, to Okey Tell Howell & Lizzie Daniel, the third of five children. He grew up in Huddleston, VA and attended Huddleston High School. Because of WWII, he joined the Navy at age 17 and served in the Atlantic aboard the USS Pope DE-134, a ship that was involved in the capture of the U-505 on June 4th, 1944. After he was discharged from the Navy, he returned home to complete his high school education, graduating in 1947.

He excelled as a catcher for a baseball team and was almost drafted to play for a Major League Team, but decided to go to college instead. He attended Phillips Business College in Lynchburg, VA, and later went to Kansas City, MO for further education. He then went to work for Western Electric, installing telephone office equipment. It was during this time that he met Billie Dulaney, who was an elevator operator in the building where he worked. After 6 weeks of dating, they were married on May 14th, 1948, and were inseparable from that day on.

The couple lived in Kansas City, MO for a few years, moving from there to Altavista VA, then to Arlington, VA where Eddie and a friend were going to build and operate a mobile home park. But fate intervened and in 1954 an opportunity arose to own and operate (with Guy Wight) the Alpine Rose Lodge in Brighton UT, a ski resort. So, Eddie and Billie moved from Virginia to Utah to operate the lodge. They sold the lodge in 1959 and Eddie was offered a job selling cars in Salt Lake City. He was then offered the job as branch manager of Acme Fence Company in Ogden, rising to the position of Vice President of American Fence Company, Utah division, with the home office located in Phoenix, AZ. He retiring from the company in 1991. Eddie and Billie then moved to Mesa, AZ where they lived until Eddie’s passing.

Eddie served as President of International Fence Industry Association during the fiscal year 1986-87. He was Past President of Ogden Rotary Club, in Utah 1988-89, and enjoyed attending makeup meetings all over the world. He was also a member of the Ogden Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and Elks International.

He and Billie enjoyed all aspects of life, including camping with their family and traveling all over the world. Eddie enjoyed fly fishing on the Madison River in West Yellowstone, MT, Henry's Lake in North East Idaho, Fontenelle Reservoir in Wyoming, hunting deer in northern Utah, and antelope in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. Another pastime was pheasant hunting in Idaho with his friends and family, along with his bird dog, Benny. He also enjoyed fishing at Wildhorse Reservoir and Wilson Reservoir in Nevada with Billie's sister and brother-in-law. He and Billie thoroughly enjoyed their RVs, driving them from San Carlos, Mexico, to Alaska to help build a house with Habitat for Humanity, and traveling as far east as Newfoundland, Canada, in addition to visiting all of the lower 48 states.

Eddie is survived by Billie, his wife of 72 years, their three sons, David of Roy, UT, Mike (Judy) of West Haven, UT, and Kevin (Laura) of Davenport, IA. He had 3 grandchildren, Michelle, Tyson, and Travis, and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brother-in-law Kenneth Plymale of Huddleston, VA, sister-in-law Polly Howell of Bedford County, VA, and several wonderful nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Okey and Lizzie Howell, his sisters, Esther (Ben) Blankenship and Loretta (Kenneth) Plymale, and brothers, Ralph, and Alfred (Polly) Howell.

No service is planned at this time. Memorials can be made to your local Disabled American Veterans.

Photo and obituary (edited) originally published on the Standard-Examiner, www.standard.net. View Eddie’s obituary on the website here.