Albert Cowan

NEW BERN - Albert (Al) Cowan, 79, died and went to his Lord on April 23, 2011. He was born in Rochester, N.Y., on January 18, 1932.

As a young man, he joined the Navy to serve his country during the Korean War and while stationed in Charleston, S.C., met the love of his life, Rae. He and his bride lived in the Rochester area from 1955 until they retired to River Bend in 1987.

Al worked for Eastman Kodak Co. for 38 years where he became a Master Instrument Maker. He made first models of cameras by hand before they would go into production and developed and made cameras for the military. Fifteen of those years he served as a preliminary development supervisor in that same department at Kodak. His hobbies were puttering in his workshop and traveling. Al has been an active member of Christ Episcopal Church since he moved to New Bern.

His life is being celebrated by his wife of 55 years, Rae M. Cowan and his children, Elizabeth Rae (Beth) Smith and husband David of Brockport N.Y. and Ralph Albert Cowan of Dunedin, Florida; seven incredibly adoring grandchildren, Matthew (Caitlyn), Holly and Julia Gursslin, Stacy Frank (David), Cantrelle Good (J.R.), Jeshua Smith and Kara Dadson. Eight children called him great-grandpa.

A memorial service will be held at two o'clock on Wednesday, April 27, at Christ Episcopal Church with the Rev. Dr. Peter Stube officiating. Interment will immediately follow the service in the Churchyard after which the family will greet friends at a reception in the Parish House.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the building fund of Christ Episcopal Church at 320 Pollock Street, New Bern, NC 28563, or to the National Heart Association at 3131 RDU Center Dr., Morrisville, NC 27560.

Arrangements have been made by Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory.

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