James C. Cowan

James Clair Cowan was born January 14, 1919 in Sterling, Colorado, the only child of Clarence "Pete" Cowan and Edith (nee Smith) Cowan. His first years were spent on a homestead ranch near Douglas, WY. After a series of moves following Pete's railroad jobs, the family bought a dairy farm outside of Brookfield, MO, and settled there while "Clair" finished his public school education.


He enrolled at the University of Missouri in chemical engineering and graduated in 1941. Known as "Jim" by then, he married his high school classmate Mary June Western on June 8, 1941. He was trained as a pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II, but never saw combat service. After the war, they moved to Barberton, OH, where he worked for PPG as a chemical engineer and cost engineer until 1981.


Jim was active in the community, including Jaycees, Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, church leadership, and school activities. He and June enjoyed traveling and flying their 21Lima Cessna all over the country for many years. Together they started a local chapter for the study and support of research for Parkinson's Syndrome. .


Jim was treasured by his family as a loving husband and father without equal. He was generous, patient, kind, and hard-working. Jim's final years have been spent in Canton with his youngest daughter Beth, who took care of him with the aid of several helpers. We would like to thank all of them, and the staffs of Windsor Medical Center and Harbor Light Hospice.


He leaves his children Terry Ann Glaser (Charles) of Findlay, OH; Connie Jo Downen (Robert) of St. George, UT; Robert David Cowan (Denise) of Phoenix, AZ; and Mary Beth Wolsey (Michael) of Canton, OH. His wife, June, whom he cared for during her battle with Parkinson's, passed away in 2001. Jim will also be missed by his seven grandchildren, several step-grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.


A celebration of life service will be held at Lakeview United Methodist Church, 211 Third St. NW, Barberton, OH 44203 on Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 1:00 p.m., preceded by a light lunch at 12:00 p.m.


In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 N.W. 9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494 or to Lakeview United Methodist Church.