Retired Lt. Col. Howard William Dashiells, 80, of Severna Park, a World War II veteran who had a distinguished career in the Maryland State Police, died of Alzheimer's disease yesterday at Sunrise Assisted Living-Severna Park after a lengthy illness.

Col. Dashiells was born Sept. 6, 1923, and raised in Baltimore and lived in Riviera Beach for 22 years where he raised his children. He served in the Army Air Corps at Normandy, in northern France, the Ardennes at the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He participated in the air offensive in Europe.

In 1946 after attending the Maryland State Police Academy, he was assigned to the Waldorf Barracks. He worked the governor's detail, acting as a bodyguard chauffeur and security for the family. He also was the liaison in matters of interest to the State Police during the General Assembly.

Subsequently he was named to the investigation and identification division in Pikesville and became the questioned document examiner for the State Police and most of the county police departments. He also taught the subject of check forgeries to new recruits and in-service classes.

On promotion to detective sergeant, he commanded the crime laboratory. He was instrumental in setting up the first full service crime lab for the State Police, which opened in 1973, and set up the first mobile crime lab.

When named captain, he was made chief of the identification division, and later as major he assumed command of state police criminal records central repository.

After promotion to lieutenant colonel he became chief of the special operations bureau.

Col. Dashiells received a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1960. He also studied at the University of Indiana and Georgetown University.

He enjoyed doing private document examinations and gave lectures at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore. He played string bass with the Contemporary Music Ensemble at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Severna Park and played for pit orchestras for community theater and the Anne Arundel Community College Symphony Orchestra. He also performed with small groups for senior centers and nursing homes.

Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" Anne Huggins-Fontanilla Dashiells; one son, William Dashiells of Westminster; one sister, Biancia Lynn Tate of Farmville, Va.; two stepdaughters, Mary Elizabeth Evans of Bel Air and Kimberly Anne Bunner of Leominster, Mass.; and several grandchildren.

Visitation is from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Friday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Cypress Creek Road and Ritchie Highway, Severna Park. Burial will be in Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, MD 21093.

As published in The Capital Newspaper, Annapolis, MD on May 26, 2004