Obituary of Thomas W. Cowan

Thomas Whitfield Cowan, 95, of 990 Hunt Rd. Lakewood, NY passed away at 7:05 a.m. Tuesday (March 29, 2011) in his home. An area resident for most of his life he was born September 19, 1915 in Anita, PA a son of the late James and Margaret Whitfield Cowan. He was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard serving as a Merchant Marine from February 22, 1943 to August 15, 1945, during World War II. Before his retirement he was employed as a grinder for the Marlin Rockwell Corporation which is now MRC/TRW, where he worked for over 30 years. He will be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather who had a real passion for the outdoors. He was an excellent gardener and was always working around his home where he planted dozens of evergreens. Surviving are his wife of 64 years the former Mildred Doolittle whom he married August 24, 1946, a son Thomas B. (Mary) Cowan of Cheektowaga, NY, a daughter Janice (Mark) Johnson of Spencerville, OH, three grandsons Christopher (Christa) Morris of New Alexandria, PA, Jonathan (Becca) Morris of Ashley, OH, Michael Cowan of Cheektowaga, eight great grandchildren Filas Morris, Frankie, Bethany, Katie, Mandy and Emily Martin, Joseph and Isabella Morris, and a sister Pauline Madeen of Jamestown. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by three sisters Mary Jane Swanson, Ann Forsberg, Margaret Kelly and a brother James Cowan. The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. Pastor Kenneth Craker, of Pleasantville, PA and Rev. Janice Johnson, his daughter will officiate. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. The family suggests that memorials be made to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 West Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750.