Annette Howitt

1922 - 2024

Annette Howitt
01/31/1922 - 08/05/2024
Annette Dixon Howitt
January 31, 1922 – August 5, 2024
Annette D. Howitt passed away in San Carlos on August 5, 2024. She was the loved and loving wife of the late Ralph Howitt, wonderful mother and mother-in-law to Bill and Kay, Carol and Thom and David and Audrey. Annette was the beloved Mamgu (Welsh for Grandma) to Joshua, Sarah, Morgan, AnnA, Amanda and Katrina and the great grandmother of Alison, Gavin, Cora, Max and Savannah.
Annette was born in Sacramento on January 31, 1922, to Gwen Powell Dixon and Herbert Dixon. Gwen's grandparents were immigrants from Wales who came for the California gold rush and eventually settled to farm near Live Oak, CA. Annette and her brother Richard (deceased) enjoyed almost every school vacation and summer at the ranch in Live Oak and spending time with the "original" Mamgu and 10 aunts and uncles. Annette so enjoyed visiting her Powell and Dixon cousins throughout her life and with her husband, Ralph and their children enjoyed many family reunions and get-togethers.
Annette graduated from Sacramento City College in 1941 and San Jose State in 1943. Through a college roommate she met her husband to be, Ralph, who was studying engineering through an army program at Santa Clara University. They married on January 22, 1944, and less than seven months later, Ralph was deployed where he saw active duty in the European theatre. Annette returned to Sacramento and gave birth to Bill in April, 1945. Following the war, Annette, Ralph and Bill moved to the small village of Conesus, New York where Ralph resumed his teaching career. Following a rather brutal winter and thanks to the G.I. Bill, the intrepid three journeyed back to California where Ralph attended Stanford and received his Master of Education Administration. Later, definitely in the summer and not winter(!), Annette organized family trips to New York via the California Zephyr to visit Ralph's mother and extended family. In later years the family traveled on the newly completed Interstate 80 and returned on the recently completed trans-Canada Highway.
In 1948, just before Carol was born, Annette and Ralph purchased their house in Redwood City where Annette would live until she entered memory care in November 2022. During this time Annette became involved in volunteer work with the schools and church where she served on numerous boards, directed the children's choirs and sang for years with the San Carlos and Redwood City Congregational (UCC) church choirs. Annette also loved singing for years with the AAUW Women's Chorus which later became the Peninsula Women's Chorus.
Taking advantage of her considerable musical training, Annette began to teach piano, a few lessons at a time to Bill, Carol and a few neighborhood children. This bloomed into a career, and for the next 65+ years Annette taught multiple generations of children and adults! Annette made sure that all her children were musically literate and had a sound piano background. Although Bill and Carol distinguished themselves on the guitar and flute respectively, David, born in 1953, concentrated on the piano and later the organ, and encouraged by Annette, became a professional musician. During subsequent years Annette continued her education taking music theory, German, French and Italian classes which helped her and Ralph in their numerous trips to Europe from the 1970's - 1990's.
Annette did a great deal of volunteer work from the 1950's - 2015 which included teaching sewing, Bible study and literacy at the Hillcrest Juvenile Detention Center and was also an early volunteer in the Head Start program. She later volunteered at the Redwood City Library in the adult literacy program.
Family was an important part of Annette's life, and she so enjoyed organizing many, many trips to Memorial and Portola Parks, the beach and especially camping (later glamping!) trips to Yosemite. She greatly enjoyed her grandchildren especially congregated on her backyard patio for Sunday afternoon lunches and dinners. All of her children, grandchildren and students were well-loved and Annette accepted all of the various quirks and bumps that go along with being a child, teenager, young adult and beyond!
Unfortunately, Annette suffered from dementia for the last few years of her long life. Bill and David would especially like to thank our sister, Carol, for helping Mom and being there at all times during this difficult period. The family would also greatly thanks the staff of the San Carlos Elms and Pathways Hospice.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 28 at 1:00 pm at the First Congregational Church, 1985 Louis Rd., Palo Alto.
Memorial contributions can be sent to Pathways Home Health and Hospice and the Peninsula Open Space Trust.