Howard Zeb RONDEAU

RONDEAU, HOWARD ZEB 1918 - 2005. Recitation of the Rosary will be 7:30 p.m. Friday, 12/16 and Memorial Mass 1 p.m. Saturday, 12/17 at Dunes Memorial Chapel, 2300 Frontage Rd., Reedsport OR. Born in Carthage, NY in 1918. Graduate of the Camas, WA high school. Howard Rondeau was a B-26 bomber flight instructor at various bases before flying combat missions over Germany and France in WWII. As the Squadron Leader in 33 out of 36 missions in the 344th Bomb Group, Lt. Rondeau was well decorated (4 Battle Stars, 2 Purple Hearts and 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses.) His love of flying continued in the USAF Reserve (retired as Lieutenant Colonel) and in his own Cessna 182. He worked at the then Crown Zellerbach paper mill in Camas, WA and at the Gardiner and Portland, OR International Paper Corporation facilities in various Engineering/Supervisory capacities. After retirement, he worked with the International Executive Service Corporation on assignment in Cairo, Egypt. He has lived on the Oregon Coast since 1964 and enjoyed many activities including designing and building 2 homes, a sports car, and an ex perimental aircraft. Hunting, fish ing, flying, ballroom dancing and traveling around the world with his wife Barbara were passions of his life. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the joy of his life and spoiling them rotten brought him constant pleasure. His grandpa box was family renowned. Howard came from a large family of 9 and leaves an even larger family of his own. He was preceded in death by his wife Myrle and is survived by Barbara Rondeau of Reedsport; his wife of 32 years. Together they have 5 children, 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren spread across the country from Alaska to Texas. Survivors include son Glenn L. Rondeau and his wife Cheryl of Keizer; stepson Michael A. Gardner and his wife Sharon Freeman of San Francisco, CA; daughters Barbara Butterfield of Harriman, UT; Judy Rondeau of El Paso, TX; and Paula Cline and her husband Bob Jr. of Reedsport; sisters Viola Youngchild of McMinnville and Andrea Little of Florence. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Salvation Army are requested. Published in The Oregonian on 12/17/2005.