Jul 10, 2013

Waynesburg building contractor

Robert D. Cowell Sr., 77, of Waynesburg, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Respicenter West, Waynesburg, after a long battle with frontotemporal degeneration (Pick’s disease).

He was born September 28, 1935, in Waynesburg, a son of the late Donald B. and Kathryn F. Russell Cowell.

Mr. Cowell was a 1953 graduate of Waynesburg High School.

On April 28, 1956, he married C. Sue Wilson, who survives.

Mr. Cowell’s career spanned 50 years. He was a self-employed building contractor and founder of Robert Cowell & Sons. He built several homes in the Waynesburg area, maintained several rental properties and purchased and developed Colonial Plan. He had also worked as a carpenter for Wayne Lumber Co., in bridge construction and at the Hatfield Ferry Power Station. He had previously worked for Kridle’s Cleaners, Bischoff Creamery and as a dairy farmer.

He was a former member of First Church of the Nazarene in Waynesburg, where he served as a board member, Sunday school teacher, missionary president, building committee member, song leader, choir member and speaker. He was currently a member of First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg, where he was an elder, member of the mission commission and the building committee and sang in the choir.

Mr. Cowell was an active supporter of Greene County 4-H Cattle Club and FFA.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of 57, years C. Sue Cowell, are five children, Deborah Lynn Scott, Pamela Sue Homrock and Robert Dale Cowell Jr., all of Waynesburg, Christa Ann Matheou and husband John of Tampa, Fla., and Brandon Lee Cowell and wife Lindsay of Carnegie; nine grandchildren, Jason Garber (Gretchen), Katelyn Matheou, John Michael Matheou, Douglas R. Homrock, Ashley Haas (Colin), Andrew, Dustin, Dylan and Devon Cowell; two great-grandchildren, Bella and Maddox Haas; sister Joanna Throckmorton of Waynesburg; five brothers, Charles Cowell of Bay Village, Ohio, Donald Cowell of Waynesburg, Gary Cowell of Kernersville, N.C., Ronald Cowell of Port Orange, Fla., and Keith Cowell of Waynesburg; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are two brothers, James A. and Russell Cowell.

Friends will be received from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Behm Funeral Homes Inc., 182 West High St., Waynesburg. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 12, in First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg, 169 West College Street, Waynesburg, with the Rev. William Sukolsky officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration at www.theaftd.org. Condolences may be offered at www.behmfh.com.