Cecil Martin Howell

Cecil Martin Howell, a man whose life exemplified love, service, and devotion, took his final breath on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in the comforting presence of his wife, Donna, who was fondly by his side.

Born in San Jose, CA on February 13, 1949, Cecil was the oldest of 2 children and spent his youth calling Santa Clara home. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in San Jose; a place where he’d meet and come to know a young Donna, before losing touch upon their 8th grade commencement. Cecil’s family eventually moved to Union City, CA, a town he would reside in for the remainder of his life, and it was there that he attended James Logan High School until his graduation in 1967.

The years following high school led Cecil on a brief stint at Chabot Jr College and work at Kimber Farms Chicken Ranch before opting to enlist in military service to the US Army. In 1969 Cecil was deployed to serve efforts in the Vietnam War where he acted dutifully as an air traffic controller. In 1971 his experience with traffic control in the army led to a 32 year career with Bay Area Rapid Transit, where he spent many years as a train controller before moving on into management.

Shortly after his hiring with B.A.R.T, Cecil found fate would cross his path with Donna’s once more when he learned she was attending a local ballet class with two of his cousins. Reunited at the behest of his cousins, Cecil and Donna began their courtship in 1973 and made their love official when they were wed on August 10, 1974. The couple welcomed their first of five children in December of 1977. Fatherhood, for Cecil, became a calling to which he devoted himself, without reserve, and was a role he always regarded as one of his most treasured accomplishments.

As his children grew and came to have children of their own, Cecil came to be known in his later years as Pop, a title he adoringly loved and represented proudly. He was a family man at his core, full of love, smiles, and warmth and will be deeply missed by all who cared for him.

Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, Alice, and Cecil LaVerne Howell, and is survived by his wife Donna, their 5 children, 13 grandchildren, and his sister Gloria. Cecil was 74 years old.

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Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.limafamilysantaclara.com for the Howell family.