Donald Sullivan Cowan, Sr.

Donald Sullivan Cowan Sr. born on May 13, 1950 was a loving father and loving husband who was dedicated to his family and friends. He battled several prolonged illnesses since 2019 and finally succumbed to it in 2023. He collapsed from cardiac arrest at his home on March 21 after 11pm and after a short stay in the Intensive Care Unit at the Mission Hospital his body passed away on March 24th at 9:34PM. Those who witnessed this event would like to believe that he truly died at home immediately after his heart gave out surrounded by family who loved him, which was his final wish. He was 72 years old.

Don was born and raised in Mobile, AL with his 5 brothers and 2 sisters. After graduating high school, he set off for college where he met his wife, Doris. He married Doris in 1973 and had three children–the eldest child was stillborn, a son in 1981 and a daughter in 1986. This year of 2023 marks their 50th wedding anniversary.

He was the first in his family to graduate from college. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business from Clark and a Master’s in Business Administration from AU before the two schools became Clark Atlanta University. He took great pride in putting his two living children through college as well. His son attended NC State University and his daughter Wake Forest University.

Don was a great man who lived a full long life and achieved many honors. In 1998, he completed his studies at the Graduate School of Sales and Marketing Management at Syracuse University and was certified by Sales and Marketing Executive International (SMEI).

He also won an award for the Graduate School of Sales Management and Marketing for competitive simulation on June 19th 1997 and was the Markstrat competitive simulation winner on June 5th 1998. These competitions showcased contestants’ business skills by putting them to the test.

He received a certificate of appreciation awarded for his participation in strategies for successful selling in February 1988 from Weber Associates. He was also heavily involved with the community with many volunteer projects, church activities and parent-teacher organizations. He taught vacation bible school along with his wife at Sycamore Temple Church and offered many monetary contributions.

Don and his wife were awarded senior recognition for their dedicated service to the William Randolph elementary School in 1989. He also received a special thanks for relentless and untiring services from the students and faculty of in May 29th 1991 where he served as co-president of the PTO.

At the Blue Ridge Community College he taught Business Law and helped many students find careers in the field of business. He was a Community Volunteer with the local Lions Club and involved with boy scouts where his son became an Eagle Scout. His immediate family also liked to think of him as a “dance dad” because of his daughter who was in the Asheville Civic Ballet and Wake Forest Dance Company. He never missed a performance and always had his camcorder out to record her shows.

He worked for 18 years in various positions with Olin Corporation and Ecusta Paper and Film Group. These positions included accountant, personnel, sales, and marketing. As marketing manager and sales manager, he worked very closely with the executives of Ecusta Mill and formed a strong network of business clients for them. He traveled on business trips to many locations around the United States. He traveled Internationally as well to Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. He worked for Schweitzer-Mauduit in Atlanta GA and had a home office until 2003. During retirement he worked as an assistant manager at local Walmart Stores in various locations near Asheville, NC.

He was the son of Edward Cowan Sr. and Marie Campbell-Cowan, he is survived by his wife Doris Carter Cowan, his son Donald Sullivan Cowan II, his daughter DorianMarie Christia Moore, son-in-law Thomas Walter Moore, brothers Alfred Lee Cowan and his wife Cynthia Cowan, Robert James Cowan, Carlos Cowan, sister-in-laws Oletha Stinson, Zella Cowan and Ollie Gardener, and a host of nieces and nephews including Tina Raleta Stinson, Ralph Stinson, Lauren Cowan and great-nephew Mathew Cowan. He was like a second father or grandfather to them all. He is also survived by half-siblings Moody Fleming and Carolyn Cobb and his cousin Miss Mattie Bell Lynum.

Although he lived many years and lived life to the fullest, we still believe he was taken away too soon. He will be missed and his memory will always be cherished. May his soul find peace with the Creator and may he finally rest in heaven where he was longing to go and reunite with his loved ones.

If you recognize Don or know his family members and would like to share in his funeral please attend Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 11:30 am at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian in Arden. Burial will follow at Calvary Churchyard in Fletcher. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the funeral home. The funeral will be streamed live starting at 11:25 AM. Please see the link to the livestream below the obituary and click to start once the stream begins.

For those wanting to help with funeral expenses please do so here https://everloved.com/life-of/donald-cowan/donate/

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