Robert Howley
Life of Robert Howley
HOWLEY ROBERT S. HOWLEY SR., 92, of Kelleys Island and New Smyrna, FL, died peacefully Monday, Nov. 1, 2010, in Columbus, He was born in his home at 10305 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland in 1918. His parents were Christopher J. and Emily Amelia (nee Smith) Howley. He was the youngest of three sons. During his lifetime, he lived in Cleveland, Lorain, Vermilion, Huron, New Smyrna and Kelleys Island. He was a 1937 graduate of West High School in Cleveland and a 1941 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelors degree in accounting. During World War II he was a Navy Lt. Cmdr. serving in the American, Europeon and Asiatic (two stars) theatres in patrol torpedo boats (PT boats), 1942-45. As a naval officer he saw action in the Pacific Soloman Islands campaigns, Bougainville Beach landing and invasion, and through the Solomans to Papua New Guinea. In PT Boat Squadron 5 (MTB RON 5) he saw extensive action in some of the hardest fought campaigns in World War II.
In 1945, he was assigned to (PT) Squadron 22 (MTB RON 22) in the Mediterranean, stationed at Cannes, France. At the end of the war, he taught PT boat operation at the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Training Center in Melville, RI.
A believer in small business entrepreneurship, believing in innovation and positive thinking, he was successful in creating, managing, and teaching about small businesses during his business career. In 1946 he founded, managed and operated the Howley Hardware Company in Lorain.
In 1955, he started his own manufacturers' representative business (electrical), the Robert S. Howley Company. He was owner and president for 25 years. The business remains successful and is managed by his son, Robert Howley Jr. and grandson, Andrew Howley. In retirement he founded Howley Construction which remodeled and built new homes. He was a director of Central Bank in Lorain, past commodore of Vermilion Boat Club,and past commodore of Vermilion Yacht Club, a former member of Catawba Island Club, and a member of the VFW at Kelleys Island. He was an active member of the Audubon Society.
His favorite pastimes included following Notre Dame, travel, sailing, boating, golfing, reading three newspapers a day, watching FOX News and debating with knowledge his political positions.
Survivors include Florence J. Block; sons, Robert (Nancy) Howley of Columbus and David (Danielle) Howley of Hopedale, MA; daughter, Suzanne (Roger) Whitacre of Columbus; grandchildren, Andrew and Amy Howley, Olivia and William Howley, Alison Ziemke Kleibscheidel, Sara and Emily Whitacre, and Peter and Robbie Krupp; and nieces and nephews, Dan Howley, Lee Howley, Tom Howley, Kate Howley and Christine Miles. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy Krupp; grandson, Peter G. Howley; his parents; and brothers, Lee C. Howley and Christopher J. Howley. VISITATION WILL BE 11 A.M. FRIDAY followed by a service at noon in St. Peters Church, Huron. Immediately following, the family invites relatives and friends to a celebration of Robert's life at the Huron Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VFW Post 9908, Kelleys Island, or Odyssey Hospice, 540 Officecenter Place, Suite 100, Gahanna, OH 43230.
HOWLEY ROBERT S. HOWLEY SR., 92, of Kelleys Island and New Smyrna, FL, died peacefully Monday, Nov. 1, 2010, in Columbus, He was born in his home at 10305 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland in 1918. His parents were Christopher J. and Emily Amelia (nee Smith) Howley. He was the youngest of three sons. During his lifetime, he lived in Cleveland, Lorain, Vermilion, Huron, New Smyrna and Kelleys Island. He was a 1937 graduate of West High School in Cleveland and a 1941 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelors degree in accounting. During World War II he was a Navy Lt. Cmdr. serving in the American, Europeon and Asiatic (two stars) theatres in patrol torpedo boats (PT boats), 1942-45. As a naval officer he saw action in the Pacific Soloman Islands campaigns, Bougainville Beach landing and invasion, and through the Solomans to Papua New Guinea. In PT Boat Squadron 5 (MTB RON 5) he saw extensive action in some of the hardest fought campaigns in World War II.
In 1945, he was assigned to (PT) Squadron 22 (MTB RON 22) in the Mediterranean, stationed at Cannes, France. At the end of the war, he taught PT boat operation at the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Training Center in Melville, RI.
A believer in small business entrepreneurship, believing in innovation and positive thinking, he was successful in creating, managing, and teaching about small businesses during his business career. In 1946 he founded, managed and operated the Howley Hardware Company in Lorain.
In 1955, he started his own manufacturers' representative business (electrical), the Robert S. Howley Company. He was owner and president for 25 years. The business remains successful and is managed by his son, Robert Howley Jr. and grandson, Andrew Howley. In retirement he founded Howley Construction which remodeled and built new homes. He was a director of Central Bank in Lorain, past commodore of Vermilion Boat Club,and past commodore of Vermilion Yacht Club, a former member of Catawba Island Club, and a member of the VFW at Kelleys Island. He was an active member of the Audubon Society.
His favorite pastimes included following Notre Dame, travel, sailing, boating, golfing, reading three newspapers a day, watching FOX News and debating with knowledge his political positions.
Survivors include Florence J. Block; sons, Robert (Nancy) Howley of Columbus and David (Danielle) Howley of Hopedale, MA; daughter, Suzanne (Roger) Whitacre of Columbus; grandchildren, Andrew and Amy Howley, Olivia and William Howley, Alison Ziemke Kleibscheidel, Sara and Emily Whitacre, and Peter and Robbie Krupp; and nieces and nephews, Dan Howley, Lee Howley, Tom Howley, Kate Howley and Christine Miles. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy Krupp; grandson, Peter G. Howley; his parents; and brothers, Lee C. Howley and Christopher J. Howley. VISITATION WILL BE 11 A.M. FRIDAY followed by a service at noon in St. Peters Church, Huron. Immediately following, the family invites relatives and friends to a celebration of Robert's life at the Huron Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VFW Post 9908, Kelleys Island, or Odyssey Hospice, 540 Officecenter Place, Suite 100, Gahanna, OH 43230.