Willard Edward Cowan was born September 23, 1948, in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the eldest son of the late Edward Cowan and Charlotte Douglas Cowan Camble. He attended St. Joseph Parish and was a proud graduate of W.H. Council High School (Huntsville), Class of 1966. Upon graduating, he attended Alabama A &M College before being drafted. Instead of joining the Army he enlisted in the US Navy in 1969. He spent over twenty years in the Navy, attaining the rank of Chief Storekeeper. His duties included supervision of staff engaged in the receipt, storage, inventory and assurance of supplies and equipment. Most of his time in the Navy was spent aboard the USS GARCIA, USS Belknap and USS Guadalcanal. He was also assigned to the Naval Investigative Service Office in London, England for two years. He retired from the Navy with a rank of Chief Petty Officer in 1989. After his Navy career he was employed by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) working in Washington, DC and later in Atlanta GA. He retired after many years of dedicated service from HUD on Oct 1, 2013. After his retirement he decided to spend his final years in Columbia, South Carolina.
During his early years, Willard was a gifted tailor and loved to work on computers in his spare time. He later developed a love for woodworking and enjoyed spending time with his furry companion, Roblé.
Willard leaves to cherish his memories his mother, Charlotte Camble; four sons, Orlando Williams of Huntsville, AL, Thaddeus Hammonds of Montgomery AL, Corey Cowan of Harvest, AL, and Christian (Sara) Scott of Columbia, SC; five brothers, Maurice (Katherine) Cowan Sr. of Huntsville, AL, Kenneth Ray Cowan, Sr. of Huntsville, AL, Jeffery Lanier of Madison, AL, Edward Cowan of Madison AL, Roger Cowan of Athens AL, and Myron Cowan of Houston TX; two sisters, Victoria Cowan Jones of Huntsville, AL and Pamela Lanier of Madison, AL; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his loving companion, Pamela Scott; bonus son, Erik (Rae) Scott; close friends, Walt T. Conley, “Ba Bro” Rooks, and Kenneth Walker; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.