Bernard Victor Howell

Our world lost a great man on July18, 2015.   Bernard Victor Howell, born February 17, 1927 in Maysville,Arkansas, spent his last years in Chico, CA.  When Victor was 9, his parents, Gene Henry and Anna May (Blackburn) Howell,along with his sister Florence, and brother Steve,left the devastation of the dust bowl in a covered Ford flatbed truck and movedtoCalifornia.

Towards the end of WWII, Victor joined the Navyat the age of 17.  He served as a medical corpsman and transported injured soldiers from Navy ships to bay area hospitals.

After waiting for her to graduate high school, he married the love of his life, Jane Elizabeth Combs in Aromas, CA. Together they raised three children, Suzanne, David, and Norman in Napa.

He attended college with funding from the G.I. Bill and graduated from Pacific Union College in 1952. He continued graduate studies in chemistry until being recruited by Mare Island Naval Shipyard.  His work as a chemical engineer in the Rubber Laboratory was instrumental in silencing nuclear submarines. Victor was incredibly hard working. During his 36 years there, healsoworked night shift on the weekends as a health-care provider.

He had a wry sense of humor and loved to tease. He had a strong faith and was active in his church and youth groups. He enjoyed travel and showed his family America by long car trips.

After Jane’s death in 1987 he was remarried to Ruby McIntosh. Together they traveled the world by cruise ship and tour groups.

Victor was a devoted father to his children and grandfather to Cassandra, Catherine, Conrad, Elijah, Isaac, Holly, and Kaitlyn and great grandfather to Lillian, Ian, Alden, and Billy. Victor will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

A service will be held in Napa at noon on Monday July 27 in the funeral home at Tulocay Cemetery at 411 Coombsville Road.

Please visit victor-howell.forevermissed.com and newtonbracewell.com to see photos or to leave comments.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to your favorite charity.

 Service Information