Joseph Lawrence Cowden, Jr.

Joseph Lawrence Cowden, Jr., 82, formerly of Horn Head Road, Mount Pleasant Township, McDonald, where he resided on his family farm, died Sunday, October 24, 2004, in Hawthorn Woods, Washington. Mr. Cowden was born on March 29, 1922, in Washington, a son of Joseph L. and Alice Thelma Rumbaugh Cowden, Sr. He was a graduate of Hickory High School and a member of the Hickory United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Cowden served in the United States Navy during World War II as a Radioman having received the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with 2 Stars, Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 Star and the Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Cowden once worked at RCA in Canonsburg and was retired from Columbia Gas after having worked more than twenty-five years in the communication department. He enjoyed bowling and golfing. Surviving are two brothers, William E. Cowden, Sr. of Washington, Russell Cowden of Prosperity, with whom he most recently made his home; three sisters, Lois Cowden King of Houston, Belva White of Mercer, and Evelyn Athey of Hickory; and twenty-seven nieces and nephews. Mr. Cowden is preceded in death by two sisters, Ila Snyder and Nancy Schmidt; and a brother Alvin Cowden. Friends of Joseph Lawrence Cowden, 82, of Prosperity, who died Sunday, October 24, 2004, will be received on Tuesday From 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm, in the William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held on Wednesday, October 27, 2004 at 11:00 am with Rev. Douglas Reinard officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Prospect Cemetery, Hickory.