Oliver Bullock Howell was called home by his heavenly Father on Sunday, March 7, 2021.  He was born on March 4, 1926 to Ruth and Haywood Howell in Durham, North Carolina.  Oliver was a man of adventure and that quality led him to meet many people and travel to unique places.  His adventures started at the age of 15, when he worked as a young migrant worker in Canada, Oliver went on to graduate from Louisburg Junior College and then Elon College both in North Carolina.  His adventures continued as he was drafted into the U.S. Army and became a Chaplain’s Assistant stationed in Hawaii.  Oliver went on to work for a top government agency and served twice as a missionary worker/teacher in Peru, South America. Oliver loved the Spanish language and sharing it.  He would seek out restaurants where he could talk to the waitstaff in Spanish.  While working in Peru, Oliver met his first wife, Ilia Bolanos. The couple had two children, Sylvia (special friend Miguel) of Hallandale Beach, Florida and Oscar (Vicki) of Mondovi, Wisconsin. They later divorced. Oliver remained close to his family in Peru visiting them frequently and most of all making memories with his children.

In 1973, Oliver married Dorothy (Dottie) Raderstorf.   They were married for 41 years and resided in North Carolina.  Later they moved to Texas and resided there until her death in 2014.  With marriage to Dottie, Oliver gained a stepson, David (Christine) Raderstorf of Lawrenceville, Georgia and a stepdaughter, Vicki (Victor) Moiles of Copper Canyon, Texas.  Shortly after Dottie’s death, Oliver moved to an assisted living facility in Hallandale Beach, Florida, where he spent the last years of his life. Through his life Oliver enjoyed the arts including drawing, painting, and hand crafting nature figurines.  He always enjoyed Sunday church services with his family including listening to services over the phone while in assisted living. In his book he even wrote about his faith and how he came close to death on a Sunday and vowed to never miss church again. Oliver’s most recent adventure was in 2017, when he had his hand written journal published under the title:  A Memoir Four Attempts.  

Oliver is survived by his sister Joyce Howell Mehring of Sanford, North Carolina, grandchildren Brooklynn Howell, Kayla Howell, Kim (Craig) Donahue, Mike (Tammy) Raderstorf,  Ashley (Josh) Gebhard, Erika Moiles and Todd Moiles.  Plus great grandchildren:  Brittany and Amber Donahue, Christine and Logan Raderstorf, and Kaitlin and Kaleb Gebhard also a  niece Lynn James Stivers (Ozzie) and nephew Gerry (Susan) Sowers.

Oliver is preceded in death by his parents, his former wife Ilia and his wife Dorothy. A memorial service is being held at Zion Lutheran Church in Mondovi, Wisconsin on Saturday, March 13th at 4pm.  A Military Honors Ceremony will take place at The Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Lake Worth, Florida on Monday, March 29, 2021.

Arrangements entrusted to Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, Hollywood Chapel.