Emanuel Dunbar Cowan

Emanuel “Dunbar” Cowan was born on April 15, 1932, in Rowan County, North Carolina to James Edward Cowan (Papa Ed) and Sadie Carr Cowan (Mama Sadie). He attended Rowan County public schools and graduated from Price High School, where he played football and was in the school band. Shortly after graduating, he moved to Washington, D.C.

While in Washington, D.C., he meets and marries the love of his life, Pearl Mae Duncan, in 1953. From this union they have three children, Gwendolyn Terry, Tyrone Cowan, and Yolanda Cowan. Several years later he relocated to Capital Heights, Maryland.

Dunbar (as he is known) served in the U.S. Army until 1961. Shortly after his military service, he worked hard providing for his family. He began working and ended as the Supervisor in the Logistics Department for the Brady Publishing Company until the company’s relocation to another state. The company’s owner valued him so much that they offered a relocation package for him and family. After much thought, he declined the offer. After his tenure at the Brady Company, he began working with law enforcement. He held law enforcement positions with government agencies, such as Homeland Security (SPO Captain, Navy Police) where he and his team guarded the U.S. Vice President’s residence, and the Department of Defense at Navy Yard (where he retired as a SPO Lieutenant).

He loved to entertain family and friends and was famous for being dressed to the “T” with hats to match. He was always the “life of the party”. In earlier years, he loved to travel (packing up the kids, grandkids in the middle of the night heading to the beach, North Carolina, or wherever). After retirement, he stayed busy working on cars or repairing something around the house. He loved his family, good food, life, and laughter.

Dunbar leaves to cherish his memory: children, Tyrone Cowan and Yolanda Cowan; grandchildren, Charlene Langon (Will), Anthony Terry (Kellie), and Jade Cowan (Greg); great grandchildren; Gerri Tilley, Horace “TJ” Anding III, Alicia Terry, Anthony Terry Jr., and Aaron Terry; great, great grandchildren, Donavin Tilley, Layla Tilley, and Aubrey Tilley; sister, Lillian Pulliam; and a host of nieces and nephews. Dunbar was preceded in his death by his loving wife, Pearl Mae Duncan; daughter, Gwendolyn Terry; granddaughter, Tia Pyles; siblings: brothers (Carl Cowan, Harold Cowan, Clinton Cowan, Nathaniel Cowan), sisters (Catherine Ross, Thelma Teamer, Talmadge Carson, Ruth Carson and Helen Cuthrell).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fort-lincoln.com for the Cowan family.