To the Rothwells:     7 May 2016
   I cannot express the sorrow I feel knowing that Howard is gone. It was my honor and privilege to serve with him in the 72nd/714th AES. On the many training flights and the live airevac flights, Howard was always the one with the great ideas and the common sense to implement the same.
   Until we meet again, old friend.

Grady W. Phillips
Major, USAFR, MSC (ret.)

To the Rothwell family,
     Saw a note today on Facebook about Howard. Have been off the grid in many ways and didn't know.
     From my time at Deborah and with the 72nd AES, he was always a calming presence that I gratefully appreciated. He was truly a good man. So sorry for his loss.

Grace and peace,
Mj

Dear Mary Ann,
Barb sent me this link and I was so sorry to read about your loss of Hob. It was a long, valiant fight and I'm sure it was hard-fought. My memories of delivering firewood to your place in NJ and chatting with you two are still clear albeit long ago and far away! God-speed, Hob! My prayers are with you.

Mary Ann, what a joy it was for Dave and me to meet you and Howard on our very first cruise.  You guys were the pros, and you made us feel so welcome!  We will never forget the times that we shared with you two.  Thank you for taking the time to let us know about Howard.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.  It is a sad loss, but that is due to the great love that you shared.

All my love and prayers to Mary ann, Grace, and Herb!!! He is now an angel in heaven watching over each of you now. Rest in peace Howard!---Love Always, Wildflower in Temple

Rest in peace my friend.  It was an honor and privelege to serve with you in the 72nd/714th AES.  Memories of your smile and compassion for patients, family and co-workers will never be forgotten.

A wonderful man has gotten his wings.... Always in our hearts and forever in our thoughts..

What a wonderful person.  I will truly miss him he was so knowledgeable and willing to share his knowledge with us med techs.  God Bless him and those that shared him with us.  Rest in peace and I will see you again someday.
Msgt Cortijo

We were so sad to here that our friend Howard passed away.  Our prayers and thoughts are with you.  We will miss him.

LOVE AND PRAYERS TO MARYANN GRACE AND HERB---HEAVEN HAS A NEW AND SPECIAL ANGEL WHO WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN LOVE TO ALL-- AUNT DITI

Uncle Hob, you will forever be loved and truly missed. You've been the only true uncle I've ever known. I will miss our talks, you could always lift me up when I was down and I will never forget that. I tried to remember a single moment if i could of you ever been down or needing to be up lifted and I couldn't. I have always looked up to you and aunt Maryann, you guys have always shown me love, thank you. I love and miss you.

Mar...thinking of you this AM. So sorry we aren't there.  Love Karen & Ray

Thank you Hob for sharing your life with me I am blessed for you are my Brother

To our dear friend, Hob. You are one of the kindest, gentlest, and most peaceful people we ever knew. We were so blessed to have known you and to call you our friend. We will miss you from the bottom or our hearts, and look forward to meeting back up with you someday to share a hug, glass of wine, and a few laughs.  Thanks for the love, support, and good times.  We love you.

Dearest Hob,
When I try to explain to people who have never had the fortune to know you personally its hard to convey just how special of a human being you were.  One in a million is usually what I start with, but those words are not enough.   I have never met anyone quite like you before and seriously doubt I will ever.  When I think of you which is often you bring a smile to my face because of your easy going nature and your never ending humor which never ceased even when you were in the grips of so much pain you still made others around you laugh!
I believe there is a new bright star in the heavens now that you are there.  
Thank you for being the best brother-in-law that I could ever ask for, for that I feel blessed. 
You'll be missed by many and loved by all!
Till we meet again
Love, Deb

Mary Ann Walt and I are so very sorry to hear about Howard. Howard was always the sunshine in my day wether at work or outside of it. A kind and gentle soul. But so smart and had common sense. All my memories are warm ones. As warm as he was. May you know peace.

Condolences to your family.  Howard was a great person, I most remember him working and flying at McGuire, always something funny to say, and great fun on a weekend trip.  Always a smile or something to lighten the day.  He will be missed and fondly remembered as we reminisce in those stories!

The air conditioner on my car is making a loud nasty noise and I want to ask Hob what he thinks is wrong with it but I can't; he had to leave us too soon. He would know what was wrong with it.  He was one of the smartest men I know.  Hob was technically my brother in-law but he was really my brother in every way but blood. He put together a car by getting an engine here, a transmission there and a body from somewhere else and then he gave it to me for my 17th birthday.  He took me to the steepest roads in Vernon NJ and taught me how to drive the manual transmission.  The lesson would stop for the day when there was smoke pouring out from under the hood from the clutch burning and we would continue another day.  He was humble.  He was a cardiac nurse. Friends from his medical profession may not even know he was an FAA Airframe and Powerplant mechanic and worked for Boeing. He literally worked on building the first 747 that rolled off of Boeing's assembly line.  His skill as an airplane mechanic kept him out of the infantry after he was drafted into the army and instead he worked on aerospace machines in Vietnam....and was exposed to agent orange. I curse those days but he never complained.  In fact he was proud to be a Vietnam Vet and serve his country. He was my friend, a loving uncle and a gentelman in every way. He was the only man I know that could fix your car, fix the airplane you rode on and fix your heart. We all miss you dearly.

So sorry for your loss Mary Ann - may your wonderful memories of Howard give you comfort at this sad time..

The air conditioner on my car is making a loud nasty noise and I want to ask Hob what he thinks is wrong with it but I can't; he had to leave us too soon. He would know what was wrong with it.  He was one of the smartest men I know.  Hob was technically my brother in-law but he was really my brother in every way but blood. He put together a car by getting an engine here, a transmission there and a body from somewhere else and then he gave it to me for my 17th birthday.  He took me to the steepest roads in Vernon NJ and taught me how to drive the manual transmission.  The lesson would stop for the day when there was smoke pouring out from under  the hood from the clutch burning and we would continue another day.  He was humble. He was a cardiac nurse. Friends from his medical profession may not even know he was an FAA Airframe and Powerplant mechanic and worked for Boeing. He literally worked on building the first 747 that rolled off of Boeing's assembly line.  His skill as an airplane mechanic kept him out of the infantry after he was drafted into the army and instead he worked on aerospace machines in Vietnam....and was exposed to agent orange. I curse those days but he never complained.  In fact was proud to be a Vietnam Vet and serve his country. He was my friend, a loving uncle and a gentelman in every way. He was the only man I know that could fix your car, fix the airplane you rode on and fix your heart. We all miss you dearly.

Howard was a great friend and flying buddy. He pinned my bars when I got commissioned. We were the "old timers" of the unit.He will truly be missed.

My deepest sympathies go out to the family. Howard was my friend since we were 5 years old. We shared many years from kindergarten through high school. He was one of my best friends. Always had a positive outlook. He will be missed.

So sorry Mary Ann. You found a gem of a guy. He was a wonderful person who will be missed by many. The world's loss.

Howard was such a great guy!  He was a pleasure to work with in the AF, and fun to socialize with.  An officer and a gentleman always.  I have many fond memories. My thoughts & prayers are with Maryann and their family.

I sereved along side Howard for 12 years in the 72nd/714th AES he was a true patriot, hard worker, and an awesome officer. My heartfelt condolences go out to you Mary Ann and your family. 

Patricia Simmons (AKA Malaga) Barrington, NH

A truly wonderful man that we feel blessed to have called a friend. He will be dearly missed by those who knew him.

It was honor and privilege to serve with Howard. A true role model for many of us. He will be missed. My condolences to his family.

An officer and gentleman! Just a wonderful person- will be missed by so many- healing thoughts and prayers to family and friends!

I am proud to say that Howard Rothwell was a friend, a colleague, and a brother-in-arms. We were both members of the 72nd AES at McGuire AFB, NJ. Additionally, at the time we were commissioned, we were the two oldest 2nd Lieutenants in the US Air Force Reserve. We both held that fact to be a signal honor and it made us proud!
I am saddened to hear of his passing. He is missed by one and all of us from the old 72nd. May he rest in peace!

Grady W. Phillips
Major, USAFR, MSC (ret.)

It was an honor to have served with Howard for so many years and to watch us grow from young men with black hair, to old aging men with silver hair. You will be missed my friend, condolences to the family.

My condolences on Howard's passing.  I was very fortunate to have served with him! Again, my condolences for a truly great guy.

Sad to hear about Howard passing away.  I was honored to have served with him and able to call him a friend.  He was a true patriot, always willing to volunteer and serve.  You will be missed but your memory will remain with all you touched during your life.

My condolences on Howard's passing.  Howard was a mentor and endless resource for all things AE!!  He assisted the FN's and AET's alike.  I was fortunate to serve with him!!  Again, my condolences.

Our family suffered a great loss at the passing of my cousin, Hob. My sympathies and condolences to Mary Ann, Aunt Grace, Herbie and all the family. Sending love and prayers to all.

I remember many fond times with Hobby. The car shows that He and his brother Herbie took me to. The trip to Florida to visit relatives that Uncle Herbie and Hobby took me on. The bar-b-ques and holiday family get together s at their home in Oakland NJ. He will truly be missed. Mary Ann our prayers are with you, Aunt Grace and Herbie.

A man that I truly admired. Always an inspiration for all.

We have lost a great man. He was an excellent friend, co-worker, instructor, mentor, advisor, son and husband. His memory will be ever-lasting. Maryann, my deepest sympathies

words can not describe the sorrow i feel at the passing of Howard... a great guy he will be in our prayers.... Mary Ann, our prayers are with you and your family Howard touched so many lives and was a big part of my early years at the 72nd....may he rest in eternal peace in God's loving arms....

OBITUARY

CPT (Ret.) Howard Richard Rothwell

7 December, 1948 – 11 April, 2015

Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home

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