The  Shelbyville  News
Monday, October 21, 2002
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Paul Wayne Cowen, 81, of Shelbyville, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2002, at his home.
Born May 16, 1921, in Shelby County, s/o  John Kelly  and  Alta May (Kelley) (Cowen) Hudson.
Married  Freda Sweet  on May 21, 1949, and she survives.
Other survivors:  sons,  Gary Cowen,  Eugene Cowen  and  Joey Cowen, all of Shelbyville; two daughters,  Sue Theobald  and  Janice Baker, both of Shelbyville;  five sisters,  Daisey Stewart,  Frances Yarling  and Elnora Deaton, all of Shelbyville, Anna Pool of Rushville and  Justine Losey  of Florida; one brother  Darroll Kelley  of Greenwood; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by three sisters:  Mary Huffman,  Emmajean Kelley  and  Caroline Kelley, and two brothers, Paul Hudson  and  Carroll Kelley.
Employed in shipping at Peerless Pump for 20 years, retiring in 1986.
Lifelong resident of Shelby County. He attended Mount Auburn High School.
U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Member of Vine Street United Methodist Church.
Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, the Rev. Gene McClain officiating, assisted by the Rev. Harvey Weaver.
Burial:  Miller Cemetery in Shelby County.
Contributions:  Hospice of Shelby County.
Summarized by Phyllis Miller Fleming


The  Shelbyville  News
1998
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O. Evelyn (Meadows) Wethington Cowin, 72, Franklin, died Friday at Universal Health Care, Franklin.
Former resident of Shelbyville.
Born Nov. 15, 1925, in Beckley, W. Va., to  Perry J. and Littie B. (Lilly) Meadows.
Married  John B. Wethington  Dec. 4, 1944, and he preceded her in death Jan. 12, 1969.
Married  Robert L. Cowin  in November, 1972, and he preceded her in death September 1982.
Worked at Welsh Kitchens in Shelbyville for eight years and Continental Kitchens in Shelbyville for 8 years.
Member of Franklin Church of Nazarene, Veterans of Foreign War Women’s Auxiliary, Shelbyville, and various craft clubs in Shelbyville.
Survivors:  sons, Danny Wethington, Hope, Terry Wethington, Franklin, John Wethington, Shelbyville, Richard Wethington, Connersville, Roger Wethington, Waldron, J. Michael Wethington, Geneva, and Joseph Wethington, Edinburgh; two daughters, Sharon Self, Rushville, and  Norma Watson, Nineveh; two sisters, Lorene Perdue, Mabscott, W.Va., and  Margaret Lafferty, Ravencliff, W.Va.; 20 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by two sons and four sisters.
FFranklin Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Cecil Pugh officiating.
Burial:  Hamner Cemetery, Amity.
Flinn and Maguire Funeral Home, Franklin.
Summarized by Phyllis Miller Fleming


The  Shelbyville  News
Monday, November 5, 1979
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Helen M. Cowen, 75, Cloverdale, died Sunday, November 4, 1979, Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis.
Born April 3, 1904, London, Shelby County, d/o  William and Amanda Stites Alexander.
Married  Dawson F. Cowen  on January 19, 1930; he survives.
Survivors:  daughter, Mrs. Kenneth (Judith) Sims, Plainfield;  brothers  Carl Alexander, Beech Grove, and  Paul Alexander, Indianapolis;  two grandchildren.
Member Cloverdale United Methodist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary, Cloverdate.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Cloverdale.
Burial:  Cloverdale Cemetery.
Summarized by Phyllis Miller Fleming


The  Shelbyville  Republican
Wednesday October 13, 1948
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RETIRED  COUNTY  FARMER  IS  DEAD
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Rites Here Friday For Robert Frank Cowin
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          Robert Frank Cowin, 66, well-known retired Shelby county farmer, died at a hospital in Madison yesterday at 4:30 p.m., after an illness of several months.  Death was due to a complication of diseases.
          He was born in Shelby County on June 2, 1882, the son of  Elijah and Ella (Bontz) Cowin.  His wife,  Nora Lee,  of this city, preceded him in death on November 17, 1947.
          Nine children were born to the union, six of whom survive.  They are  Mrs. Cora Gill, Shelbyville;  John Cowin,  Washington township;  Mrs. William Archey,  Rush County;  Mrs. Leo Kohler,  Connersville;  Mrs. Ray Berry,  Lawton, West Virginia, and  Mrs. Dale Robbins, Johnson county.  Two brothers,  Wilfred  of Marion and  Elmer  of Pennsylvania, two step-sons, five grandchildren and four step-grandchildren also survive.
          Funeral services for Mr. Cowin will be held at the Murphy Mortuary at 10 a.m. Friday with Rev. Clarence Hager officiating.  Burial will be in the Miller cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after noon Thursday.
Contributed by Barb Huff


The  Shelbyville  Republican
Wednesday November 19, 1947
Page 1 column 3
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COWIN  FUNERAL  TO  BE  THURSDAY
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Mrs. Nora Cowin, 63, Succumbs From Burns
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          Funeral rites have been arranged for a Shelby county farm wife who died at Major hospital Monday night as the result of burns suffered in an explosion at her home near Rays Crossing that morning.
          The victim of third-degree burns over most of her body was  Mrs. Nora (Lee) Cowin,  63-year-old wife of  Frank Cowin.  Mrs. Cowin was burned in an explosion, which occurred as she attempted to light a fire in the kitchen stove with the use of kerosene.  It is believed that the highly inflammable fluid exploded when it reached some live coals in the bottom of the stove.  The blast of flames ignited her clothing and, after sinking into a chair as the result of shock, she ran screaming into the yard at her home.  She was rushed to the hospital after neighbors reached the scene.
          Deceased was alone in the home at the time.  Her husband was in a field nearly three miles away when the explosion occurred.
          The last rites will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock in the Loren H. Murphy funeral home, with the Rev. A. M. Hamilton officiating.  Burial will be made in the Miller cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 2:00 p.m. today.
          Daughter of  John and Jane (Cowin) Lee,  Mrs. Cowin was born in Shelby county on August 5, 1884.  She was married to Frank Cowin, who survives with six children,  Mrs. Audry Gill  and  John Cowin, both of Shelby county;  Mrs. William Archey, Rush county;  Mrs. George Kohler, Fayette county;  Mrs. Ray Berry, Lawton, West Virginia, and  Mrs. Dale Robbins, Johnson county; two children by a former marriage,  Hollis Snyder, of Jennings county, and  Raymond McDonald, Decatur county, and nine grandchildren.
          Also surviving are three brothers;  Clarence Lee, of St. Louis Crossing;  Dillard Lee, of Rays Crossing; and  Russell Lee, of Michigan, and three sisters,  Mrs. Charles Atkins, of Shelbyville;  Mrs. Ora Bennett, of Geneva and  Mrs. Clyde Hobbs of Shelby county.
Shelby County Indiana Marriages
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Nora Lee  &  Herchel McDonald
May 23, 1906
Book 18   Page 198
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Contributed by Barb Huff  for Carolyn Berkemeier


The  Shelbyville  Republican
Saturday October 17, 1925
Page 1 column 6
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MRS. COWIN  DIED  VERY  SUDDENLY
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Well Known Resident of Jackson Township
Succumbs to Heart Disease
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FUNERAL  SERVICE  MONDAY
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          Mrs. Melvina Cowin, widow of the late  Henry Cowin, died very suddenly at her home in Jackson township, sometime during last night.  She was found dead in bed by her son, Richard Cowin  this morning about six o'clock.  An examination by County Coroner, Dr. George I. Inlow, revealed the fact that heart disease was the cause of death.
      Mrs. Cowin was born in Bartholomew county October 9, 1857 [daughter of  Hiram & Mary Lee] and passed away at the age of sixty-eight years and eight days.  She was married to Mr. Cowin forty-seven years ago and to this union eight children were born, five of whom are living.  They are  Richard  and Albert, of Jackson township;  Florence of Bloomington;  Garnet of Morristown and  Carl  of this city.  She also leaves five brothers, Levi,  John,  William,  Joseph  and  David Lee, all of Shelby county, besides eight grandchildren.  Mr. Cowin died six years ago.  The deceased was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church of Lewis Creek and her passing comes as a great shock to the many relatives and friends.
      Funeral services will be conducted at the Wesleyan Methodist church at Lewis Creek Monday morning at ten-thirty o'clock, the Rev. Parry officiating.  Interment will be made in Miller cemetery, C. F. Fix & Son, in charge.
Contributed by Barb Huff

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