Richard L. Cowan, 89, of Indian Lake, Ohio, passed away at 1:27 a.m. Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, of a stroke at OSU Brain and Spine Hospital in Columbus. He had been surrounded by his family all that week as he struggled with his condition and had a loved one at his side when he passed.
Dick was born on June 22, 1932, at home on his family’s farm in Bokescreek Township, Ohio, the youngest child of the late Ida Belle (Conrad) and Adair Cowan.
He went to Zanesfield High School, where he was on the basketball, baseball, volleyball and track teams, in the orchestra and band and excelled in all subjects, especially math in which he won a scholarship by placing 4th in a county-wide competition. He played as catcher in several baseball leagues in the years after his high school graduation while he worked on his dad’s farm and at several part time jobs.
He married Mildred Wells from Kenton on July 5, 1953. Dick was drafted into the Army March 1954. After leaving the Army in 1956, he attended Ohio Northern University and graduated with B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1961. He was offered a position with Western Electric, which took him and his family to Murray Hill, NJ, Columbus, OH, Monroe, NY and Hopewell, NJ.
While living in Monroe, baseball became a part of his life again. In the summers of 1966 and 1967 he was a catcher for Central Valley in the Orange County League. He obtained a M.S. in Material Sciences and Metallurgical Engineering in June 1970 from Lehigh University. His job with Western Electric took him next to Shreveport, LA, in 1980.
He took early retirement from Western Electric in the fall of 1986 and began teaching in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Ohio Northern, where he pioneered an internship program between ONU engineering students and the Honda plant in Marysville. There is a room in the new James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building at ONU dedicated to him.
In 1994, he retired from full time teaching at ONU and became an assistant baseball coach there, finally completely retiring in the spring of 1999. He lived with his wife Millie in Huntsville at this time and they spent the next 10 years traveling, gardening, taking fishing trips, playing duplicate bridge, traveling to see their 3 grandkids and hosting get togethers for their families and friends.
Millie died in 2009 of a heart attack. Dick was able to foster a relationship with Bonnie Uttermohlen of Bellefontaine, a bridge buddy. They married on November 23, 2012, at Long View Cove on Indian Lake where they had purchased a newly-built house.
Dick loved “all his families” very much and was a favorite uncle to his nieces and nephews. One niece says that he always made everyone he talked to feel important and respected. His friends loved being around him as he was funny, ornery and very kind. He believed in helping the disadvantaged by encouraging them to work hard at their educations and never give up.
While living with Bonnie on Indian Lake, Dick kept himself busy with social and community activities. He was a part of the “Young Men’s” Bridge Club. He mentored students at Indian Lake High School in math from 2014-2016. He was on the board of the Bellefontaine Senior Center for 10 years and served as its president for 3. He worked for Meals on Wheels and ran bingo night at the Belle Center VFW.
Dick was preceded in death by his father and mother Ida Belle Conrad Cowan and Adair Cowan. His brothers Dale Cowan and Robert Cowan of West Mansfield. His sisters Donnabelle Cowan Jacobs, Helen Cowan Elliot and Nellie Cowan Vernon. His sister-in-law Becky Bushong Cowan and his brothers-in-law Johnny Elliot (Helen), Forest Jacobs (Donnabelle) and William Vernon (Nellie). He also unfortunately lost his nephew Charles Elliot in 1996 and his niece Marjorie Elliot Oliver in 2020.
Besides his wife Bonnie Uttermohlen Cowan, Dick is survived by his daughter Leslie Cowan Keyse and her husband Mark Keyse of Kokomo, IN. His grandson Nathaniel Keyse and Nathaniel’s wife Julie and their 3 children Millie, David and Shawn Keyse of Amelia, OH; His granddaughter Sarah Keyse Blakely and her husband Ross Blakely of Fairlawn, OH. His son Clinton Cowan of Northfield, MN, his daughter Valerie Cowan and her husband David Hogan of Marlborogh, MA, and his granddaughter Gwen Hogan and her husband Max Henkel of St. Paul, MN. He is also survived by his step daughter Rene Duff and her husband David Duff of Huntsville. His step grandson Ross Duff, Ross’ wife Paige and their children Taylor Elizabeth and Annabelle; his step granddaughter Lauren Major, husband David and their child Celine. His step daughter Leslie Bozman and her husband Bob Bozman and their children Alex Bozman and Nick Bozman, Nick’s fiancee Kami Masters and their child Nixon. His step daughter Heather Voorhies, her husband Jeff Voorhies and their children Noah and Olivia. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews, their children and their children’s children.
Memorial services will be at the Indian Lake Community Church, 120 Orchard Island Rd., Russells Point, on Saturday, December 18. Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m., and a service at 11 a.m..
Donations in Richard’s name can be made to the Bellefontaine Friendly Senior Center or the Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphona Society of America.