Howes, William A.
William (Bill) Howes, 95, peacefully entered eternal rest on March21, 2021.
Born in 1925 to the late Mary Ella (nee Ashley) and William Arthur Howes in Pittsfield Massachusetts. Bill was predeceased by a brother, George A. Howes. Bill's father died at a young age; leaving him to be raised by a single mother building a strong measure of self-reliance. The social & economic challenges of the Great Depression formed his life tenets with a life-long commitment to hard work, conservation and the environment. He graduated from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a degree in economics in 1947. He served in the US Army at Camp Edwards during the Korean conflict as a specialist in materiel & logistics. At UMass he met his future & beloved wife, Jacqueline (nee Couture). They married in 1954, settled in Windsor Locks and had four children.
Jacqueline preceded him in death after 49 years of marriage. Bill is survived by all his children: Jonathan Howes and his wife Sharon of Wethersfield, CT; Amy Asselta and her husband Roger of Mullica Hill, NJ; Melanie Leighton of Conifer, CO; Lisa Eifler and her husband George of Paradise Valley, AZ; eight grandchildren Alaura Howes, Marc Howes, Megan Asselta, Kristen (nee Leighton) Nabarrete, Alaina (nee Leighton) Hopkins, Colton Eifler, Seth Eifler, Austin Eifler; and seven great-grandchildren.
Bill retired after 33 years working for Cigna and its' predecessor companies Connecticut General and Aetna. There he was a pioneer in computerizing accounting and data processing for insurance companies. He also served as Aetna chess team captain and enjoyed his time as a member of Cigna Corporate Track & Field team.
Bill first took up long distance track while at UMass. He ran 11 marathons & countless road races, continuing the sport well into his seventies. Bill's favorite place to run was the Windsor Locks Canal Park Trail along the Connecticut River, where he could do more than run. He would connect with the natural surroundings, the wildlife, and enjoy watching eagles soar.
Bill's commitment to conservation led him to be active in the Connecticut Chapter of the Sierra Club, for time serving as its treasurer. In 1990 he joined the Windsor Locks Conservation Commission where he served for 25 years.
Bill enjoyed traveling. First sharing cross-country camping adventures with his family then later making several trips with Jacqueline through the Caribbean & Europe. After her death, he continued to travel to visit his family dispersed in Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Colorado, and Arizona. He enjoyed reunions with his extended family in Western Massachusetts and Upstate New York. Bill was an avid gardener starting seeds late each winter, then tending his plants through the spring and summer and harvesting into the fall. He became a certified Master Gardner, sharing his expertise with many. He looked forward to each planting season. He enjoyed watching all sports from golf to the Tour de France. But he had a special passion for women's collegiate basketball and was an avid fan of UConn's Women Huskies. He enjoyed reading, especially historical works. He was a serious chess player, competing and coaching. He often would settle down with the paper to try to solve the daily Sudoku puzzles. During his travels he gained a special appreciation for art, the Dutch Masters in particular, but not exclusively. He was a firm believer in education and life-long learning; continuing to take college level courses into his nineties. Bill was an active member of the Windsor Locks Lions Club for 34 years and a recipient of their Melvin Jones Fellow award.
Bill was a faithful member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in East Windsor, active on committees and serving as financial secretary. Bill was grateful for the spiritual and community blessings he shared with his fellow congregants.
A memorial service will occur after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. Memorial donations are suggested to the Windsor Locks Lions Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 105, Windsor Locks, CT 06096.