Oliven Thomas Cowan: Obituary

Oliven Thomas Cowan, 95, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 16, 2018.

 

He was the son of the late Henry Cowan and wife, Lucy Hall Cowan.

 

Dr. Cowan served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II as a member of the 388^th Fighter Squadron of the 365^th Fighter Group of the 9^th Air Force. He was a fighter pilot and flew a P-47 Thunderbolt in 88 combat missions over Europe. Dr. Cowan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal plus 12 Oak Leaf Clusters, a Presidential Unit Citation as well as citations from Belgium and France.

 

Dr. Cowan was a graduate of Western Carolina Teachers College, received a Master’s Degree from George Peabody College for Teachers, in Nashville, Tennessee, and received a Doctoral Degree in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

 

During his 44 year career in education Dr. Cowan served as principal of Webster School, principal of Oakboro School, the first principal of West Stanly High School, as well as Assistant Superintendent of Stanly County Schools and Associate Superintendent of Burlington City Schools.

 

Dr. Cowan was a member of the First Baptist Church of Waynesville and previously a member of the First Baptist Church of Burlington.

 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Louise Edwards Cowan, and by his brothers, Hoyt Cowan and Edward Cowan.

 

Dr. Cowan is survived by his sister, Mary Sue Cowan Norris, his son, Mack Cowan and wife, Betty Sue Cowan, his daughter, Angelique Cowan Kymmell and husband, Max Kymmell, five grandchildren, David, Joe and Andrew Cowan, and Hannah and Allison Kymmell, and eight great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Natalie, Jonathan, Liam, Julia, Chloe, Rachel and Stephanie Cowan.

 

The family received friends from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, North Carolina.

 

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church, Murphy, North Carolina, with Reverend Chris Furl officiating.

 

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, was in charge of all arrangements.