Richard Milton McGowan

Lt. Col. Richard McGowan was born on October 5, 1931 in Princeton Indiana to the late Charles Michael McGowan and Mae Maudeen McGowan. Richard attended Tulane University in New Orleans, LA and graduated from McNeese State in Lake Charles, LA. During his 22 year army career, Col. McGowan served as Deputy Commander of a regional Criminal Investigation Unit, and did a tour of duty in Vietnam Nam. He later worked in Combat Development and held positions ranging from Platoon Leader to Army Post Commander. After retiring from the army in 1977, he served as senior army instructor for ROTC programs at Palmetto High School and Decatur High School. Col. McGowan also graduated from Georgia State University with a Master’s and Specialist degree in Education Administration and Supervision.

Col. McGowan considered his family his greatest accomplishment. In 1961, he married Marcia Dale Warnock McGowan and raised four children. He is preceded in death by his oldest son, Christopher Lee McGowan. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters; Marcia (Dee) McGowan, Blythe E. McGowan, son; Richard M. McGowan (Amanda), granddaughter; Savannah May McGowan, and numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 3rd at eleven o’clock in the morning at H.M. Patterson & Son Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd., Sandy Springs. A service will be held in the chapel at twelve o’clock, noon followed by committal with full military honors at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Memphis, TN.