All of our animals loved Barry. Despite his sometimes reserved exterior, he was an incredibly gentle man with a very light and patient approach, especially to scared little creatures. He trained all of our dogs, and the cats all loved him. He saved starlings and hummingbirds who fell or hit themselves on the windows. He even raised a raven. All of the creatures received the same loving care who was an animal lover.
Barry and Dorothy began dating in 1961. They met on a blind date--but they were each on the date with other people. They spent their time at picnics, going to the Pike amusement park in Long Beach, and riding around in Barry's cars. Dorothy's father didn't initially approve of Barry because he thought he was older than he claimed to be, especially since he showed up to the house to pick her up with a full beard! Dorothy's father made Barry show his driver's license as proof of his age before we would allow his daughter to go out with Barry.
After their courtship, Dorothy and Barry married in 1962 in the Catholic church. Despite the fact that Barry was not Catholic, Barry took the classes so that they could marry in the church to please Dorothy's family. They spent their honeymoon in Santa Barbara. After two years of marriage, Laura was born in 1964.
Much of their married and family life was spent renovating their homes and saving for small indulgences like trips to Las Vegas or projects around the house. They were a traditional couple, with Barry as the breadwinner, while Dorothy worked when she could and kept the house in order. Barry worked multiple jobs at times to ensure that the family had everything they needed. The owned four homes during their fifty year marriage and a number of pets. They always had lots of friends and neighbors with whom they connected. And they, of course, had family nearby. Andrea, Dorothy's sister, and her husband, Roger, and their son, Brent, were in Chatsworth for most of Dorothy and Barry's life, as were Dorothy's parents, Helen and Andy, and cousins, Joy and Jim.
Later in their lives, Barry and Dorothy moved from Rancho Cucamonga, where they lived for almost 35 years, to Palm Desert, where Dorothy still resides. In many ways, these were their best years together with more relaxing days and many friends. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a beautiful party in Palm Desert on June 30th, 2012.
Barry was a tough kid. From the age of 17, Barry lived on his own in an apartment with some friends. An avid car fan, he belonged to a car club called the Centurians. With the Centurians, he raced for pink slips and ran the streets seeking the thrill of fast cars. He owned a car that had the engine that held the land speed record at the Salt Flats in 1956. As an adrenaline junkie, he was always looking for the next ride, owning '40 and '46 Ford. He also owned a motorcycle as well. Once he cut through an alley where he attacked with a knife, and even though he was just a kid, he fought off the attacker, though he carried the scar for life.
Barry supported himself by working full time while he was in high school. He worked as an apprentice in the sheet metal industry after he was expelled from Gardena High School. One day, Artesia Blvd. flooded as did Gardena High. Barry informed the truant officer that he was going to take his 1940 Ford home, because it was so low to the ground that he was a afraid it would flood. The truant officer tried to prevent him from leaving, but Barry was intent on protecting the car. When he left the school, the truant officer followed him but got stuck in the flood water, even though Barry got away. As a result, Barry was expelled and finished his high school career at Washington High Adult School.
Barry Howell was born in Santa Monica in 1943. He lived with his parents and sister Daria. Little is known about his childhood, but it is clear that even as a baby, according to his baby book, he liked to study things, observe the world, and wach how things worked.
