March 2, 1948 – January 19, 2020
James B. (Jim) Cowan was born in Pennington Gap, Va., on March 2, 1948.
At the age of nine, he and his family moved to Noblesville, where he graduated from Noblesville High School in 1967. The same year, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended helicopter maintenance training at Ft. Rucker, Ala. From January 1968 to January 1969, Jim proudly served with the 134th AHC in Phu Hiep, Vietnam, as a helicopter mechanic.
Upon his return stateside, Jim was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas, where he completed his military duties. Immediately following, he went to work for Bridgestone Firestone, Noblesville. In addition, he worked part-time for Lee Security, where he served for two years as a Marion County Special Deputy Sheriff. In 1999, after 30 years, Jim retired from Bridgestone Firestone and immediately began working for A&L Specialty Foods, Indianapolis, where he lived his dream of driving a semi-truck (18-wheeler) for the next five years. Sadly, Jim was forced to retire, due to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.
After a long battle with Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia, Jim went to be with the Lord on January 19, 2020.
He is survived by his spouse, Marilyn (Jean) Cowan, Lebanon; his sister, Vicky Leonard, Noblesville, and his brother, John DeVaney, Jr., Arcadia; three daughters, Tracey Thompson, Greenwood, Marci Strong, Columbus, and Robin VanHorn, Columbus; three stepchildren, Lori Blankenship, Lebanon, Philip (Marty) Lehr, Anderson, and Shawna Riley, Cicero. He is also survived by his nephew, Jason Hoover, Noblesville; 11 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. He is preceded in death by his mother, Eula Howard; his father, Wm. James Cowan; and his sister, Carolyn E. Benson.
Jim has donated his body to the Anatomical Education Program at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. Burial services will be held in the fall of 2020 with full military honors. If you plan to attend this service, please contact jeancowan@yahoo.com for the exact date and time.
Thoughts and prayers to the family in this time of sorrow.
Thank you so much!