Robert Lee Cowden

Robert Lee Cowden, 73, of Mesa, Arizona, entered into the presence of God, Thursday, April 30, 2020 at Banner Desert Medical Center. He was born in Dexter, Iowa on November 15, 1946, the son of the late William Dale Cowden and Sara Elizabeth Allison Cowden.

After graduating from Salina High School in Salina, Kansas in 1964, he went to serve his country in the United States Air Force in 1966. He was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California as a Radio Repairman and served oversees during the Vietnam War. After his Honorable Discharge in 1970 he attended Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri where he met his wife of 22 years Marian Beth Garlitz. He then entered into the music ministry at their local church in El Paso, Texas before he began his career with Orkin Pest Control in Arizona. He retired from Orkin in 2015. He enjoyed life to its fullest. He had a fierce love of baseball and especially loved his hometown team the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is remembered fondly as a practical joker who enjoyed his family around the dinner table with a home cooked meal. He will also be remembered for being a master at solving crossword puzzles.

He was proceeded in death by his parents: William and Sara Cowden. He is survived by his three sons: Scott (Kimberly) Cowden, Jason Cowden, Ryan Cowden; one granddaughter: Tyler Beaudry; one grandson: Austin Cowden; one great grandson: David Donati. The family extends a special thank you to the caregivers and his friends at the Grand Court of Mesa for their love and devotion to our dad.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church of Tempe, 4525 South McClintock Drive, Tempe, Arizona 85282.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to First Baptist Church of Tempe, Arizona.