Charles R. Cowens

January 15, 1941 - March 8, 2016

Charles R. Cowens 75 of Bluffton passed away on Tuesday morning at the Hospice Home in Fort Wayne. He was born on January 15, 1941 in Bluffton to Frank & Nella (Fisher) Cowens. Charlie attended Petroleum Schools for 10 years and graduated from Lancaster High School in 1959. He worked for the United States Postal Service for 39 years in Bluffton. After retirement, he worked for the Bluffton Parks Department and Walmart. He was a member of the Petroleum United Methodist Church and the Bluffton Masonic Lodge #145 and a member of the Mizpah Shrine in Fort Wayne and a member of the Bluffton Optimist Club. On June 16, 1962 in Farmer, Ohio Charlie and Sharon K. (Potter) were married. Survivors include his wife Sharon of Bluffton along with two sons: Bob A. Cowens and Bill A. Cowens along with a granddaughter Emily K. Cowens all of Bluffton. He is survived by two sisters Mary Jane Elston of Warren and Alice Ann Lesh of Jacksonville, Florida along with a sister-in-law Floy Cowens of Bluffton and nieces: Joyce (Marshall) Dantzler, Janet (Dick) Sheffer, Debbie (Bob) Landrum and two nephews John (Peggy) Cowens and Sam Nichols. He is preceded in death by a son Scott A. Cowens along with a brother John Cowens and a sister Helen E. Nichols. A Service to Celebrate Charlie’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday (March 12, 2016) at the Petroleum United Methodist Church with Pastor Greg Andrews officiating. The service will include a Masonic Memorial Service given by the Bluffton Lodge # 145. Friends can visit with the family from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday prior to the service. Burial will follow at Stahl Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Charlie’s memory to the Shriner Children’s Hospital. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the Cowens family at www.thomarich.com.