“The Last of the Good Guys”, Howard Valdeen Cawthra, Jr., died in his home in Willows on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, after a long illness. He was born on January 4, 1954, just missing out on being the New Year’s baby. In that year, a gallon of gas was 21 cents, a loaf of bread was 17 cents, and Dwight Eisenhower was president.
It was joked that he walked miles in blizzards uphill both ways for 13 years of education in Willows. He put himself through school, working as a paper boy before a teenage clean-up boy at Barceloux Brothers Auto Supply store.
Wanting to expand his education, he loaded up his 1970 Baracuda and ventured off to Shasta College, where he obtained an Associate’s degree in Automotive Machining.
He told grand stories of bowling and archery classes. (Yes, he took a bowling class!)
He returned to the nest (Willows) to work in the machine shop of Barceloux Brothers Auto Supply. After some time, he accepted the opportunity to run the machine shop at the Napa Auto Parts Store in Orland.
Destiny smiled upon him and he opened up his own business back in Willows, an automotive machine shop. He worked hard, had a few employees, then had the opportunity to go in with some partners and buy Barceloux Brothers Auto Supply.
He worked there as owner/manager until he retired in 2017 due to health reasons.
He was a HAM radio operator since he built his first radio as a teenager. He was a member of the HAM Radio Club, which participated in the Glenn County Emergency Services to provide communications during natural and manmade disasters.
When he was a business owner, he was a member of Kiwanis and was a member of the Elks Lodge for 26 years.
He was actively involved in Boy Scouts during his son’s scouting career. He was on the Glenn County Planning Commission for several years and called himself The Commish (at home).
He and his wife were members of the Nazarene Church until its closure. The church may have closed but that did not stop his love for Jesus.
He remained faithful until his death. Now he will be sitting on a bench, waiting on a woman. (Country music lovers will understand.)
Howard was a kind and generous man. He was always willing to help someone out with his knowledge, time or money. And he was dad to several dogs and cats over his lifetime.
He is survived by his wife, Debbie Cawthra (who was the recipient of that “Last of the Good Guys” line while they were dating); children Heather Clift (Eric) and Adam Cawthra, all of Willows; and grandsons Wyatt Berger and Christian Cawthra, both of whom he dearly missed when they moved to Houston, Texas. He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Valdeen Cawthra, Sr.; mother Alberta Hudson Cawthra; and younger brother, James Cawthra, all of Willows.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a local no-kill animal shelter.
The Glenn County Observer 