Howard L. Luzier, 100, formerly of Limestone, and Coloniel Heights, Bradford, passed away Wednesday, December 12 2018, at the Omega Assisted Living, Cape Coral, FL.
Born August 22, 1918, in Paulsboro, NJ, he was the third son of the late William C. and Eva Leslie (Sweet) Luzier. Upon the death of his mother and brother in the devastating flu epidemic of 1918, he was raised by his maternal grandparents, the late Fred and Anna (Frank) Sweet of Limestone, NY.
On October 11, 1939, he and Florence “Smiles” Rothrock were married by Rev. Peter VanDuren of the Limestone Methodist Church.
Howard was a 1936 graduate of Limestone High School, 1938 graduate of Westbrook Commercial Academy, Olean NY., and a 1949 graduate of Customer Administrative School/IBM Accounting Management, Endicott NY.
Employed by Kendall Refining Company, later Witco Chemical Company, Kendall/Amalie Division for 45 years, retiring as an office manager in 1983.
He was active in the Kendall-Witco credit union, and the Kendall golf league. Former trustee and usher of First United Methodist Church, Bradford and Cuba, St Francis of Assisi 50+ group, Foster Township retired men's club, 460th Bomb Group (H) Society, Inc. 55th Wing, 15th United States Army Air Force, American ex-prisoner of war membership association life member, Army Air Force Association, Chautauqua Chapter 338 life member, Disabled American Veterans, Alumni Association of Limestone, NY High School, life member of AARP, Penn-Brad Oil Museum and supporter of the Fireside Pumpers, Bradford Refinery Quarter Century Club, charter member and officer of the original Data Processing Machine Accountants Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania and New York circa 1950, charter member of the area first Western Style Square Dance Club in 1962, Hicks & Chicks, which later became Jacks & Jills Dance Club, still a member when it ceased in 1995, Former membership Salamanca, NY See-Saws Square Dance Club, Cuba, NY Friendship Swingers, and Dancing Shadows Round Dance Club of Bradford.
Inducted into the United States Army Air Force on October 15, 1943, in Buffalo, NY. Howard embarked for the European Theatre of Operations and was assigned to the 15th United States Army Air Force, 460th Bomb Group, 761st Bomb Squadron, Spinazzola, Italy, as an assistant engineer/waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator (H) Bomber on July 14, 1944. On their 13th mission on Friday, September 13, 1944, their bomber completed a bombing run over the designated target, Oswiecum Oil Refinery and Rubber Works, Poland. The plane was hit by an intense amount of flak, puncturing fuel tanks and setting engines on fire. The pilot issued the order to bail out over the area of the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp was located. Howard had evaded capture and found refuge with partisans and then connected with the Russian allies and was to be returned to American hands. While waiting for a United States plane to return soldiers to Italy, they were attacked by the Germans and taken as a prisoner of war on November 10, 1944. Taken to transit camp Dulag Luft, then transferred to Stalag Luft 1, in Barth Germany along the Baltic Sea. On May 1, 1945 the camp was liberated by the Russian allies. Howard returned home on June 13. After six weeks rest and relaxation furlough, he was assigned to the Rome, NY Army Air Force Base, where he was discharged November 10, 1945. During his service to his country Howard earned, Air w/1 Overseas Bar, ETO w/5 Bronze Star, Prisoner of War, Purple Heart, American Campaign, Good Conduct, World War II Victory, and New York State Conspicuous Service medals.
Surviving his wife Florence of 79 years, two daughters, Claudia (Steven) Ervin, of Port Charlotte, FL, and Carolyn Frutiger Hubert (Robert) ,of Cape Coral, FL, three granddaughters, Marni Long ( Russell) Hawkins, of United States Air Force base Mtn. Home, ID, Lisa Frutiger (Thomas) Bowser, of Barberton, OH, and Wendy Frutiger (Mark) Frederick, of Bradford, one great grandson, Gregory Frederick, of Bradford, three great granddaughters, Kylie Bowser and Brandi Bowser, both of Barberton, OH, and Mackenzie Hawkins, of Mtn. Home, ID.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, four half-brothers, one half-sister, all of NJ, and a son in-law Richard Frutiger, of Bradford.
Family will be receiving friends on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, from 11:00am to 1:00pm in the Hollenbeck Cahill Funeral Homes, 372 East Main St. where at 1:00pm a funeral service will be held with Rev. Seth McClymonds Jr., Pastor of the First United Methodist Church, officiating. Full Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Army Air Force and members of the Honor Guard of the American Legion Post 108 will follow in Willow Dale Cemetery.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the, Anna Sweet memorial fund of the Limestone Methodist Church, P.O. Box 321, Limestone, NY 14753.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com