Obituary of Eleanor C. Cowing

Eleanor C. Cowing, 98, of 1447 Alpine St., Longmont, Colorado, formerly of Tanglewood Manor in Jamestown, died on July 29, 2015, in the home she shared with her son, Tom Cowing, in Longmont. A Jamestown area resident for most of her life, she was born March 23, 1917, in Rochester, NY, the daughter of the late Ole and Hildur Lindblom Olsen. Eleanor graduated from Lakewood High School in 1933. After graduation from Jamestown Business College in 1935, she worked at the Brooks Clothing Store in Jamestown. After her husband, John, returned from World War II service in the Pacific Theater, they owned and operated a Red & White grocery store on Fairmount Avenue in Lakewood for a number of years. Following his death in 1955, she was employed as an accountant for 28 years by the S.M. Flickinger Company of Jamestown. She was later employed as an office manager for Fluvanna Realty for another 27 years, retiring in 2010. In these last two businesses, she worked together with the late Robert Bargar of Chautauqua, NY for over 50 years. A member of the Greatest Generation, Eleanor became a single parent in an age before there was a safety net. She successfully raised her son Tom and also cared for her elderly parents prior to their passing. She was a Life Member of the American Legion Auxiliary, having joined the organization in 1946. She served in various positions in the Lakewood American Legion Post 1286, including Auxiliary President. She sold poppies for 50 plus years. She was also a member of the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club and the Independent Order of the Vikings Ingvald Lodge #65. She loved her annual trips to Colorado to visit her son and grandchildren and made many friends there, listening to "cowboy music," playing bingo, and doing difficult New York Times crossword puzzles. Surviving are her son, Tom Cowing, of Longmont, CO; two grandchildren: Emily Cowing of Denver, CO and Nathan Cowing of Arvada, CO; two brothers: John (Harriet) Olsen of New Port Richey, FL and Jim (Donna) Olsen of Fort Myers, FL; two sisters-in-law: Florence Cowing of Sebring, FL and Nancy Wood of Chesapeake, VA; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband John H. Cowing, who she married on August 12, 1936 and who died on April 8, 1955, a son John Howard who was born on November 21, 1937 and who died on January 7, 1938, and a brother Lawrence E. "Ole" Olsen who died on January 18, 1999. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, October 17, 2015 in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Nick Perry, Pastor of the Lakewood United Methodist Church, will officiate. Inurnment will be in the Busti Cemetery. Friends will be received for two hours prior to the service, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 17th at Lind's. Memorials may be made to the Lakewood American Legion Post 1286 Auxiliary, 174 Chautauqua Avenue, Lakewood, New York 14750.