G W Cowan

A man of infinite curiosity, who pursued adventure and friendship and generated lots of love in doing so, GW Cowan died at age 98 on October 18, 2026, at Cumberland House Hospice in Crossville, Tennessee.

Although he didn’t have the accent, he was indeed a Southerner. Life took him on a winding journey at a young age. GW (known as Dub to his family) was born in Spadra, Arkansas on Halloween, 1927. He was the fifth child of six to his parents, Arthur Edward Cowan and Nora Cowan née Hammond. At about the age of seven, in the depths of the Great Depression and suffering poor health, GW was moved with his family as they sought opportunities elsewhere. Thus began a journey that took the family through the Depression and WWII. In fact, GW said he never went to the same school two years running. The family lived in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, San Diego, California, as well as Randsburg, California and countless other places.

Due to WWII, GW’s high school career was compressed into three years so that he could join the war effort. However, his childhood ailment of asthma kept him from service and instead he attended university, initially, studying to be a doctor at Fresno State University. Money was short so GW switched to a Physical Science degree, graduating in 1950, and went into education. California was booming after the war and schools needed teachers. Quickly GW’s teaching position became a principalship in Tulare City School District. At Roosevelt Elementary School, GW met Dorothy Louise Smith and they were married on December 22, 1957. Their honeymoon, a romantic trip up the coast of California, came to an abrupt halt when the brakes on their car gave out on a steep hill in Carmel-by-the-Sea. This hair-raising moment proved them to be a pragmatic couple—they had money for car repairs or a honeymoon, not both. They chose the former and returned to Tulare. After earning a Master of Arts Degree and further career advancement, GW and Dorothy settled in Orange County, California. GW worked for Garden Grove Unified School District. The couple had two daughters, Kimbalena and Carrie Louise.

The home GW and Dorothy made was always open to others. Over the years, they sponsored eight exchange students from around the world. And they offered residence to many family members, including Teddy Smith, Mike Leeds, Leah and Victor Udwin, Rodney and Beverley Smith. The house was always full of people and pets. During this time GW continued to enjoy carpentry, photography and exploration of the natural world through camping and studying the cosmos. He also loved travel and made several visits to Mexico where he picked up some Spanish that he never failed to impose upon visitors to the house. Telling stories was another specialty of GW’s. One story had to do with him outswimming a pursuing water moccasin which caused some to wonder if he was related to Paul Bunyan in the tale-telling department.

When GW and Dorothy retired in 1986, they realized a long-held dream. They moved back to be near Dorothy’s family in Crossville, Tennessee and built their dream home. So the Southern boy returned. GW managed the housebuilding project himself and did much of the carpentry. That large house has been a gathering place for family and friends for the past decades. This has included a whole younger generation, such as Trevor, Camden, Ben and Whitney Udwin, Jennifer and Greg Merrick, Grace Clarke. Chief among these visitors were GW and Dorothy’s two granddaughters, Camille Louisa Coric (1995) and Jasmina Nikole Coric (1997). Although the girls lived in England, Camille and Jasmina spent long summers with Grandpa and Grandma, picking blueberries, splashing in the pool and playing with the dogs.

Sadly, Dorothy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1996. GW cared for her at home for a few years, but, ultimately, she needed the assistance of a nursing home. Every day for five years, GW dutifully visited his wife at Wharton Nursing Home until her passing in 2005. Although with her death he slowed down, GW always made time for friends and family who visited him in his home. Judy Horsley, Holger Kraus and family, Isabelle Merkel and Jamie Lee were among many.

GW was fortunate enough to live his last years at home. He was less than two weeks shy of turning 99 and was the last surviving sibling, having been preceded by Ernest Cowan, Myrtle Brown, Grace Croft, Ralph Cowan and Betty Matherly. GW is survived by his daughters Kimbalena Zeineddine and Carrie Cowan, as well as his granddaughters Camille Coric in New York City and Jasmina Coric in London. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Many have wondered how GW came by that name, whether it was short for George Washington or something else. The only answer is that the initials struck his parents’ fancy and GW always appreciated not wasting time with a lengthy signature.