John was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 49 years, Jane Ann (Soule); sister, Ann Joyce Cornelius; and brothers, Bobby and Paul Cowan.
He is survived by his daughter, Mindy Cowan; son, John Andrew Cowan; grandsons, Chad and Drew Westphal; granddaughter, Meg Cowan; great-granddaughter, Skylar Jane Westphal; and longtime companion, Audrey Bird.
Among many gifts, John will be remembered for an unwavering positivity and a twinkle in his eye. He told the best stories, and he loved a good laugh.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, John served nobly as First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was humbled later in his life to visit the war memorials of Washington, D.C., through Collier-Lee Honor Flight. He held education in high esteem, earning an engineering degree from MIT and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, as well as attending the NYU School of Law. He encouraged everyone he knew to keep learning, whether through formal education or practical settings. He loved his family and travel, circling the world many times and living in different countries.
John held a successful career as a senior financial officer and enjoyed tackling new challenges across many types of companies. After retirement, he found joy in golfing, working in real estate and helping others, especially serving St. Matthew’s House. At St. Matt’s, John managed several important projects as a member of the board for many years, and enjoyed sharing recovery stories with the residents over a warm meal.
Visitation for family and friends will take place on Friday, January 22, from 5-7 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home. A memorial service celebrating John's life will be held on Saturday, January 23, at 1 p.m. at Trinity-by- the-Cove Episcopal Church. The service will also be streamed through the church's website.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial contributions be made to St. Matthew's House.
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