Donald W Cowles

Donald W. Cowles
July 21, 1946 – October 14, 2025
Donald W. Cowles, 79, went home to be with the Lord on October 14, 2025, after a brief illness. Born in Poughkeepsie, NY, on July 21, 1946, he was the son of the late Harold and Ethel Cowles. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Robert and Frank.
He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Mary Ellen Cowles; his son Steven (Karen) Cowles of Athens, NY, and their three children, Megan, Michael, and Matthew; his daughter Jessica (John) Berry and their son Gabriel of New Hampshire; and his sister Ethel May Cowles of Poughkeepsie.
Don dedicated more than 40 years of his career to IBM, primarily working within the World Trade Organization, which allowed him the opportunity to travel across the globe.
Don and Mary Ellen shared a deep love for adventure, spending their vacations visiting U.S. and Canadian National Parks and exploring countless destinations on their bucket list. Don loved life deeply, finding his greatest joy in his family, especially his grandchildren. His son, Steve, was his best friend, Karen was like a daughter to him and Mary Ellen was the love of his life.
Known for his quick wit and trademark phrase, "I'm a genius!", Don was indeed a gifted and logical thinker who could fix almost anything. His love for gadgets, both practical and not, often brought laughter and convenience to those around him.
In retirement, Don cherished his Tuesday evening dinners with his old IBM friends and daily walks with his beloved dog, Rosie, and their close-knit group of park companions. He took great pride in his dog training skills and adopted several German Shepherds through rescue organizations over the years.
Recently, Don accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and he enjoyed the teachings of Pastor Rick at Full Gospel Center.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." – John 3:3
Don will be remembered for his love of life, his devotion to family, and his kind and generous heart. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the church family at The Gathering at Faith Assembly for their care and support during Don's final days.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Don's memory to:
The Gathering at Faith Assembly, gatheringny.org, 25 Golf Club Lane, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or Hudson Valley Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, hvars.org, 9 Barnes Drive, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.
Visitation will be held at Doyle Funeral Home on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with a service to follow at 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald W Cowles, please visit our floral store.