William Cowden

William Albert Cowden, 76, Paola, Kan., a former Osawatomie resident, died March 14, 2008, at home. He was born August 12, 1931, in Osawatomie, the son of Nelson Shaw and Jessie LaJune Johnson Cowden. He attended Osawatomie High School and graduated in 1949. He married Evelyn Marie Haney on August 28, 1952. William worked as a carman in the Missouri Pacific Shops in Osawatomie in 1950 until they closed in 1957. He served in the Army from 1953 to 1955. William was a barber at Roy’s Barber Shop from 1958 to 1970 before returning to the railroad as a trainman in 1970 and retired in 1984 as a conductor due to illness. William and Evelyn lived on a farm in Linn County before moving to Garnett in 1992. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Osawatomie. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn of the home; two daughters, Belinda Lee Newport and Linda Rene Pfaltzgraff; five grandchildren; five great grandchildren. Cremation with private services.