W. Douglas Howland

W. Douglas Howland, 101, of Watertown and formerly of Port Charlotte, Florida, passed away April 12, 2026, at Samaritan Keep Home, surrounded by his family.

Mr. Howland was born June 9, 1924, in Watertown, NY, a son of Stuart W. Howland and Ruth (Bacon) Howland. He graduated from Watertown High School in June of 1942. He entered the United States Navy after graduation and became an aviation radioman; his ship duty was aboard the USS Essex. He served during World War II from 1942 until December 1945.

Following duty in the US Navy, Mr. Howland became a railroad telegraph operator with the NY Central Railroad. While still with the railroad, he became a student at Saint Lawrence University from which he graduated in 1951, with a Bachelor’s Degree.

In 1946, Mr. Howland married his first wife, Eleanor M. Wager of Watertown. Eleanor died on September 14, 1988. In 1992, he married Rosemary Dewitt Reardon MacNichol.  Rosemary died May 3, 2013.

Mr. Howland spent four years as a trustee of Jefferson Community College. In addition, he was a life member of VFW Post #1400, American Legion Post #61and Watertown BPOE # 496. He was also a member of Watertown Masonic Lodge #49, a past president and life member of the Northside Improvement League, a member of the Niagara Mohawk 25- year club, a member of the Saint Lawrence University Honor Guard and vice chairman of the Steering Committee which oversaw the Fort Drum expansion. Active in politics for several years he spent twenty -six years as a member of the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors representing the Ninth Ward of Watertown, two of those years were as chairman of the county board. Mr. Howland retired from Niagara Mohawk as a planner in January 1988.

     He is survived by two daughters and their husbands Kathleen and Phillip Compeau, and Joanne and Daniel Woodward, all of Watertown, NY, four grandsons, Christopher (Sarah) Compeau, Kelly (Katie) Compeau, Joshua (Brianna) Woodward and Tyler (Caitlin) Woodward, a great granddaughter, Laney Woodward, three great grandsons, Matthew Compeau, Charlie Compeau, and Maxwell Woodward and a several nieces and nephews.  A brother Rufus Howland, a sister Patricia Simpson, a nephew Douglas G. Howland, a niece, Sandra Stone, all died before him.

Arrangements are with D.L. Calarco Funeral Home, Inc. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Brookside Cemetery. Contributions may be made in his name to the Northern New York Community Foundation, 131 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601.

Condolences may be made to www.dlcalarco.com

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