Boyd Albert Howe

Boyd" Curly" Howe passed away following a brief, but difficult illness Monday, Oct. 11, 2010. He had several nicknames throughout his life, but was mostly known as Curly. He was born in Rochester, Pa., in December 1921, graduated from Beaver High School and entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1939. During World War II, he flew numerous missions in Europe and the Far East and served as flight engineer for General Mark Clark. Following the War, Curly enlisted in the newly formed U.S. Air Force and followed his lifelong sweetheart, Helen, to California. Along with their daughter, RayAnn, Curly and Helen lived at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California, until he retired in December 1962. During his time in the Army Air Corps and the Air Force, Curly traveled all over the world. When he retired, they returned to Southern California to be near family. Curly went to work for the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier in 1963 and took an early retirement from that job in 1973. For the next four years, he and Helen traveled the West Coast in their Silver Streak travel trailer, square dancing and making friends along the way. In 1976, they settled in Pismo Beach to be near their daughter, RayAnn and her husband, Jim. For the next 30 years, they worked as relief managers for several of the areas motels, were Amateur Radio Operators and belonged to the local Amateur Radio Emergency Service team. They volunteered weekly at French Hospital and were avid square dancers. They served as chairman of the 25th Anniversary Square Affair in Santa Maria. They also continued their RV travels and went on several wonderful train and bus tours across the country and through Canada. Following Helen''s death in December 2005, Curly moved into Wyndham Residence in Arroyo Grande, where he found a second family. Curly continued to stay active and independent until his death. His favorite activities were Wii bowling, watching college football and Dodger baseball, surfing the internet, working on jigsaw puzzles, going out to lunch and dinner, eating hot dogs at the Elks and just making friends, of which he had many. Everyone loved Curly. Curly is survived by his daughter RayAnn (Jim) Crouse; numerous friends; and his family at Wyndham. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen. At his request, no service will be held. Marshall-Spoo 489-5552 Grover Beach