DAVID HENRY MCCOWN

1933 - 2018

DAVID HENRY MCCOWN, 85, of Ironton, Ohio, died peacefully on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, after a long and courageous battle with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. He was born on August 31, 1933, a son of the late Henry and Adrienne Tucker McCown. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Joanne Markins McCown; son, Kevin of Ironton, Ohio; three grandchildren, Brianna (Killian) McKelvey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kyle of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Andrew of Athens, Ohio; two great-grandchildren, Cruz and Capri McKelvey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; a brother, Terry (Eleanor) McCown of Westerville, Ohio; a special cousin, Joann Thomas of Ironton, Ohio; and a dear friend, James Gallagher of Ironton, Ohio. David was preceded in death by his son, Derek of Ironton, Ohio, and two siblings, Frank McCown of Ironton, Ohio, and Jean McGurk of Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was a 1951 graduate of Ironton High School and received his Bachelor's of Science degree in 1955 from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. David proudly served as a U.S. Naval Officer at the Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, and then obtained his juris doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School. Upon his decision to return to his hometown, he began his legal career practicing with Elliot Meyers. A year later he joined Attorney David Crowe, forming the law firm of Crowe and McCown, now McCown and Fisher, where he practiced until his death. He practiced with his brother, Frank, and nephew, Mark, and served as a mentor to countless attorneys over the years. David was the Chairman of the Lawrence County Democratic Party for over 30 years and delegate to the national convention; an elder, senior choir member and active member of First Presbyterian Church of Ironton for over 50 years, including teaching the adult Sunday School class for 25 years; and an avid sailor who loved to travel and spend time with his family. We will miss his candor, humor, gentlemanly civility and wisdom. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Ironton, Ohio, on Saturday, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. and the funeral service at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation or Community Hospice of Ironton.