William (Bill) Wayne Cowan of Bryan, Texas, passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at the age of 87 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Bill was born in Edinburg, TX on September 25, 1937 to Stanley Wayne Cowan and Helen Minnie Pearson Cowan. Bill graduated from Edinburg High School in the Rio Grande Valley and attended Pan American College in Edinburg, Texas (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley).
Bill married Elizabeth Ann Gray in 1983.
Bill had an extensive 30 plus year career working for Union Carbide which was acquired by Komatsu, Ltd. and renamed Advanced Silicon Materials, Inc. Bill started his career in Brownsville, TX as an operator then a stores Supervisor. In 1983 Bill and Elizabeth moved to Vancouver, WA. Bill worked with the Union Carbide plant in Moses Lake, WA as the Materials Manager/Department Head. During his time there, the plant was renamed Advanced Silicon Materials, Inc. Bill retired in 1999.
While living in Brownsville, TX, Bill was passionate about his community service with the Civil Air Patrol. Bill was the Squadron Commander for the local Civil Air Patrol Unit. He received Mission Rated Search Pilot status and logged over 250 flight hours on USAF sanctioned Search and Rescue missions for downed aircraft in South Texas and Mexico
Bill's 85th birthday present to himself was a 2022 Mustang GT. Bill's sidekick was Oden the black lab. Bill also enjoyed building and working on classic cars and street rods. Bill and Elizabeth loved to camp in the great Pacific northwest in their motor home. Bill was an avid roller coaster rider, loved photography and loved being outside tinkering on just about anything. Bill often said that one day he wanted to solo pilot one of the great fighter aircraft of WWII, especially the P38 Lightning and the P51 Mustang.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Ann Cowan of Taylor, TX and parents Stanley and Helen Cowan of Weslaco, TX.
Bill is survived by his two children, daughter Sheri Cowan and his son Quinton Cowan and his wife Karen Cowan and their children Carter Cowan and partner Kelli Love and Mackenzie Cowan all of Austin, TX. Other survivors include his devoted and loving sister Marilyn Kieffer of Bryan, TX and brother Ralph Cowan of Victoria TX. Bill is also survived by four step children, daughter Therese Fleming (Tess) and husband Tom Fleming, daughter Mary Hill (Pat) and husband Gordon Hill, daughter Deborah Lowe and husband Mike Lowe, and son David Gray and wife Elisa Gray and numerous grand children, great grand children, nieces, great nieces, nephews and great nephews.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org or Tunnel to Towers Foundation at https://www.t2t.org.
The family would like to especially thank Dr. Sandy Anne of Baylor Scott and White in Round Rock, TX as well as the many oncology nurses and staff at Baylor Scott and White in Round Rock, TX. Additionally, the family would like to thank Remarkable Hospice of College Station, TX and their caregivers and staff and 5 Points Nursing and Rehab in College Station, TX and their caregivers and staff
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