Retired Lt. Cmdr. Neil Cowell of Virginia Beach, Va. died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016 after fighting the fight against various health issues. He was 80.
Born in Pemberton, N.J. and raised in New Lisbon, N.J., he was a 1953 graduate of Pemberton High School, where he was the quarterback and co-captain of the football team. He was known for his many talents, from playing songs by ear on the piano, organ and accordion (considered the entertainer for family affairs), as well as for his mechanical abilities and woodworking skills. In plain words, he could play any song and could fix almost anything.
He married his high school sweetheart, Sara A. Griggs.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1955, serving aboard the USS Ray and the USS Sirago submarines. After his enlistment, he attended Youngstown College in Youngstown, Ohio and graduated in 1964. Upon graduation from college, Mr. Cowell went to Officer's Candidate School and returned to the Navy as an officer.
His first tour of duty was two and a half years in Northern Ireland. He served aboard the USS Northhampton, USS Trenton and the USS Mt. Whitney. He served in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970 as a river boat division commander, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He had various stateside assignments and he was commander of the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain (Persian Gulf) from 1979 to 1982. He retired from the Navy in 1984.
After retirement from the military, Neil worked as a new home construction superintendent for Napolitano Homes before finally retiring in 2000. It was at this time that Neil and Sara really got to enjoy one of their loves - camping - which afforded them the opportunity to see much of America.
He was very active at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, singing in the choir, holding many leadership roles and serving on the church vestry.
Mr. Cowell was the son of the late Samuel and Emily M. (Raws) Cowell. He was also preceded in death by his older brother, Samuel 'Bud' Cowell, and his sister, Emily Mae Rink.
Mr. Cowell is survived by his wife of 59 and a half years, Sara; his daughters, Cathleen Anne Codling and her husband, Steven, and Laura Jean Heffernan and her husband, Jim; his grandchildren, Megan, Aidan, Owen, Elizabeth, Steven II and his wife, Marie, and their children, Steven III and Zoey; and his brothers, Herbert Cowell of Sayville, N.Y. and Mark Cowell of New Hope, Pa.
Relatives and friends are invited to services at 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15 at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Va., and to the interment at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Norfolk, Va.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Francis Episcopal Church, 509 S. Rosemont Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452.
Burlington County Times: January 14, 2016
Born in Pemberton, N.J. and raised in New Lisbon, N.J., he was a 1953 graduate of Pemberton High School, where he was the quarterback and co-captain of the football team. He was known for his many talents, from playing songs by ear on the piano, organ and accordion (considered the entertainer for family affairs), as well as for his mechanical abilities and woodworking skills. In plain words, he could play any song and could fix almost anything.
He married his high school sweetheart, Sara A. Griggs.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1955, serving aboard the USS Ray and the USS Sirago submarines. After his enlistment, he attended Youngstown College in Youngstown, Ohio and graduated in 1964. Upon graduation from college, Mr. Cowell went to Officer's Candidate School and returned to the Navy as an officer.
His first tour of duty was two and a half years in Northern Ireland. He served aboard the USS Northhampton, USS Trenton and the USS Mt. Whitney. He served in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970 as a river boat division commander, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He had various stateside assignments and he was commander of the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain (Persian Gulf) from 1979 to 1982. He retired from the Navy in 1984.
After retirement from the military, Neil worked as a new home construction superintendent for Napolitano Homes before finally retiring in 2000. It was at this time that Neil and Sara really got to enjoy one of their loves - camping - which afforded them the opportunity to see much of America.
He was very active at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, singing in the choir, holding many leadership roles and serving on the church vestry.
Mr. Cowell was the son of the late Samuel and Emily M. (Raws) Cowell. He was also preceded in death by his older brother, Samuel 'Bud' Cowell, and his sister, Emily Mae Rink.
Mr. Cowell is survived by his wife of 59 and a half years, Sara; his daughters, Cathleen Anne Codling and her husband, Steven, and Laura Jean Heffernan and her husband, Jim; his grandchildren, Megan, Aidan, Owen, Elizabeth, Steven II and his wife, Marie, and their children, Steven III and Zoey; and his brothers, Herbert Cowell of Sayville, N.Y. and Mark Cowell of New Hope, Pa.
Relatives and friends are invited to services at 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15 at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Va., and to the interment at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Norfolk, Va.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Francis Episcopal Church, 509 S. Rosemont Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452.
Burlington County Times: January 14, 2016
Retired Lt. Cmdr. Neil Cowell of Virginia Beach, Va. died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016 after fighting the fight against various health issues. He was 80.
Born in Pemberton, N.J. and raised in New Lisbon, N.J., he was a 1953 graduate of Pemberton High School, where he was the quarterback and co-captain of the football team. He was known for his many talents, from playing songs by ear on the piano, organ and accordion (considered the entertainer for family affairs), as well as for his mechanical abilities and woodworking skills. In plain words, he could play any song and could fix almost anything.
He married his high school sweetheart, Sara A. Griggs.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1955, serving aboard the USS Ray and the USS Sirago submarines. After his enlistment, he attended Youngstown College in Youngstown, Ohio and graduated in 1964. Upon graduation from college, Mr. Cowell went to Officer's Candidate School and returned to the Navy as an officer.
His first tour of duty was two and a half years in Northern Ireland. He served aboard the USS Northhampton, USS Trenton and the USS Mt. Whitney. He served in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970 as a river boat division commander, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He had various stateside assignments and he was commander of the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain (Persian Gulf) from 1979 to 1982. He retired from the Navy in 1984.
After retirement from the military, Neil worked as a new home construction superintendent for Napolitano Homes before finally retiring in 2000. It was at this time that Neil and Sara really got to enjoy one of their loves - camping - which afforded them the opportunity to see much of America.
He was very active at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, singing in the choir, holding many leadership roles and serving on the church vestry.
Mr. Cowell was the son of the late Samuel and Emily M. (Raws) Cowell. He was also preceded in death by his older brother, Samuel 'Bud' Cowell, and his sister, Emily Mae Rink.
Mr. Cowell is survived by his wife of 59 and a half years, Sara; his daughters, Cathleen Anne Codling and her husband, Steven, and Laura Jean Heffernan and her husband, Jim; his grandchildren, Megan, Aidan, Owen, Elizabeth, Steven II and his wife, Marie, and their children, Steven III and Zoey; and his brothers, Herbert Cowell of Sayville, N.Y. and Mark Cowell of New Hope, Pa.
Relatives and friends are invited to services at 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15 at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Va., and to the interment at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Norfolk, Va.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Francis Episcopal Church, 509 S. Rosemont Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452.
Burlington County Times: January 14, 2016
Born in Pemberton, N.J. and raised in New Lisbon, N.J., he was a 1953 graduate of Pemberton High School, where he was the quarterback and co-captain of the football team. He was known for his many talents, from playing songs by ear on the piano, organ and accordion (considered the entertainer for family affairs), as well as for his mechanical abilities and woodworking skills. In plain words, he could play any song and could fix almost anything.
He married his high school sweetheart, Sara A. Griggs.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1955, serving aboard the USS Ray and the USS Sirago submarines. After his enlistment, he attended Youngstown College in Youngstown, Ohio and graduated in 1964. Upon graduation from college, Mr. Cowell went to Officer's Candidate School and returned to the Navy as an officer.
His first tour of duty was two and a half years in Northern Ireland. He served aboard the USS Northhampton, USS Trenton and the USS Mt. Whitney. He served in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970 as a river boat division commander, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He had various stateside assignments and he was commander of the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain (Persian Gulf) from 1979 to 1982. He retired from the Navy in 1984.
After retirement from the military, Neil worked as a new home construction superintendent for Napolitano Homes before finally retiring in 2000. It was at this time that Neil and Sara really got to enjoy one of their loves - camping - which afforded them the opportunity to see much of America.
He was very active at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, singing in the choir, holding many leadership roles and serving on the church vestry.
Mr. Cowell was the son of the late Samuel and Emily M. (Raws) Cowell. He was also preceded in death by his older brother, Samuel 'Bud' Cowell, and his sister, Emily Mae Rink.
Mr. Cowell is survived by his wife of 59 and a half years, Sara; his daughters, Cathleen Anne Codling and her husband, Steven, and Laura Jean Heffernan and her husband, Jim; his grandchildren, Megan, Aidan, Owen, Elizabeth, Steven II and his wife, Marie, and their children, Steven III and Zoey; and his brothers, Herbert Cowell of Sayville, N.Y. and Mark Cowell of New Hope, Pa.
Relatives and friends are invited to services at 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15 at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Va., and to the interment at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Norfolk, Va.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Francis Episcopal Church, 509 S. Rosemont Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452.
Burlington County Times: January 14, 2016
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