SALEM – Ernie W. Howe passed away on January 14 at the age of 79. He was born February 22, 1931 in Yale, Oklahoma to Henry Ory and Mattie Ann (Luke) Howe. Ernie was one of 18 children.

           

            Ernie’s family moved to the Willamette Valley in the 1940’s. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps serving for 28 years. Ernie married Alice Wickham in 1972. In 1977, after retiring from the Marine Corps as a Captain, they moved back to Salem where they operated a Christmas tree farm. Ernie and his brother Stan invented various types of equipment used in the Christmas tree industry for shearing and baling trees. Several years ago, Ernie and Alice sold their farm to travel full time in their RV. Ernie was an avid golfer and was a member of the Marine Corps Air Transporter’s Association.

           

            Ernie is survived by his wife Alice of Salem; daughters Rae Howe of Willamina and Dee Voytilla of Hawaii; five grandchildren, Brian Howe, Eric Case, Amanda Jones, Christa Voytilla and Tyler Herigstad; four brothers, Floyd, Hank, Stan and Garold Howe; and two sisters, Ethel Joyner and Kathleen Laws.

           

            A Celebration of Ernie’s life will be at 2:00 PM on Sunday, January 17 at the Red Lion Inn, 3301 Market Street NE, Salem. Arrangements by Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.