Flying Tiger Line Pilots Association

In Memoriam...

Howard Raefield

8/19/1937- 11/5/2011

Howard Raymond Raefield passed away on November 5, 2011 after a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer. He was born on August 19, 1937 to Raymond and Irene Raefield, in Minneapolis, MN. When Howard was 13, the family relocated to the Seattle area. He graduated from Lake Washington High School, and then served as a flight engineer in the Naval Reserve. In 1961, on a blind date at Seafair, he met his future wife Marilyn Bowron; they went on to celebrate 49 years of marriage. Howard was proud of his 21-year aviation career with Flying Tigers. He retired as a 747 captain who saw the world.

Howie's best days were spent on his boat (including a year as Kingston Cove Yacht Club Commodore) or snowmobile, surrounded by the friends and family he held in such high regard. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; brother, Dwayne; daughter, Lisa; son, Eric; and five grandchildren: Lauren Hensel, of Seattle, WA, and Evan, Owen, Miles & Sydney Raefield of Iowa City, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, DeMaris. Howard's oldest 2 grandchildren had the following to share about what kinds of things made Papa Howie special to them: for Lauren, it was the tradition of going to breakfast whenever she spent the night. For Evan, it was the fact that "Whenever I asked him a question, he always answered it."