Richard Thomas “Tom” Cowling
1935-2018
Richard Thomas (Tom) Cowling, the son of Frank and Alice Cowling, was born on January 7, 1935 in Kansas City, Missouri and passed away on June 2, 2018 at the age of 83.
Tom was a star athlete that led him to play football at William Jewel College. Thereafter, he proudly served his country in the United States Army and then began a career in sales of athletic supplies and scoreboards. That career would take him and his family from Kansas City to Des Moines, Iowa and then to Oklahoma City where he eventually started his own scoreboard manufacturing company.
On June 15, 1956, he married Janet Jackson in Kansas City and together created a lifetime of cherished memories. A fun loving person, Tom loved playing golf, the Kansas City Chiefs, spending time at the Lake of the Ozarks with family and friends and wood working. Some of his woodworking projects were known to take on a life of their own. These items he crafted by hand are cherished gifts that will never be forgotten. His humor and storytelling will be missed by all that knew him.
His faith was a focal point of his life and he selflessly served in many ways in the churches that he and his family attended. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Edmond where he served as both a deacon and an elder.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Joyce Phelps. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janet Cowling, daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Karl Holliman of Edmond, Oklahoma, daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Lance Canby of Wolcott, Connecticut, daughter and son-in-law Jodi Cowling and Robert DeLaughter of Sidney, Iowa, son and daughter-in-law, John and Karima Cowling of Parker, Colorado as well as 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren whom he loved deeply.
A memorial service will take place at First Christian Church of Edmond on June 9th at 10 A.M.