Thomas M. Cowling

Thomas M. Cowling
of Wysox Twp., Pa.
Thomas M. Cowling, 88, of Towanda RR 5, Wysox Twp., Pa., passed away Sunday evening, October 5, 2008, at his home following declining health. Born January 1, 1920 in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., he was the son of the late Donald and Elsie Close Cowling. In 1936, Tom became employed by the Chase National Bank in New York City. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1942 and saw action in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters, including the invasions of Normandy and Southern France during World War II. Following completion of his military service and receipt of his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946, Tom entered Rutgers University. On November 4, 1949, he married the former Mary Gwin Johnston in New Jersey. Tom graduated from Rutgers University in 1950 with a Phi Beta Kappa Key, and in the same year entered the employ of the Farm Credit Bureau in Newton, New Jersey. In 1957, he became employed by the First National Bank in California and remained there until 1959 when he obtained a position as a credit analyst with GLF in Somerville, N.J. Tom was subsequently employed by Agway, Inc. in Syracuse, N.Y. from 1964 to 1983 and eventually became President of Telmark, Inc., the agricultural finance division of Agway. He also became a member of the Board of Directors. Tom and Mary resided in New Jersey, California and Syracuse, N.Y., before moving to the Towanda area in 1984 to make their home following Tom's retirement from Agway, Inc. Tom was dedicated to providing tender, loving care to his wife of 54 years, Mary, during her 32 years of declining health until her passing on May 19, 2004. He is survived by his children, Anne C. Cowling, Towanda RR 5, Thomas G. Cowling and his friend, Diane Buckley, Syracuse, N.Y., Malcolm S. Cowling and his wife, Mary Halton Cowling, Syracuse, N.Y.; two grandchildren, Olivia Halton Cowling and Thomas Joseph Cowling, both of Syracuse, N.Y.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 11, 2008, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home, 217 York Ave., Towanda, Pa. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated Sunday, October 12, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 1 Main St. Towanda, Pa. Interment will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Towanda, Pa., on Monday, October 13, 2008, at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Bradford County Library, RR 3 Troy, Pa. 16947, or to Christ Episcopal Church, 1 Main St., Towanda, Pa. 18848, in Thomas M. Cowling's memory.