Lester Alan Cowen
1947 - 2017

69 of Mentone, California, passed away suddenly from an apparent heart attack at his home on January 21, 2017. Lester was born on September 7, 1947 in Loma Linda to Chet and Esther Cowen of Mentone. He graduated with the class of 1965 from Redlands High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Sherry (Hill) Cowen on February 5, 1966 and adored her for 50 years before his passing. Lester joined the Air Force in April 1966 where he served honorably until 1970. Lester was a man's man who could build or fix anything and post-military he began a life-long career in the appliance repair business. From 1984 until 2016, Lester owned and operated Cowen Appliance Service, which was headquartered in his hometown of Mentone.
While Lester's greatest love was his wife, Sherry, he was obsessed with baseball, fishing and classic cars. He was a terrific dad to his two daughters and one son and he was the quintessential "Pops" to his 8 grandkids. He taught all his kids and grandkids how to camp and fish and to love classic cars. Never one to travel too far from home, his favorite place in the whole world was his garage.
He is survived by his wife, Sherry (Hill) Cowen, his daughter Staci (Cowen) Wolfe and son-in-law William Wolfe, daughter Jennifer (Cowen) Fitzgerald and son-in-law Sean Fitzgerald, son Joshua Cowen, as well as 8 grandkids, his mother Esther (Clifford) Cowen, his sisters Suzi (Cowen) Birkey and Sally (Cowen) Gerdes, and 9 nieces and nephews. Together, with numerous extended family members and friends, he will be sorely missed. The whole family is devastated by this unexpected loss and yet is comforted by the knowledge of Pops' great love of Jesus. His legacy is one of love, patriotism and hard work. His wide smile and brilliant blue eyes will be burned into our hearts forever.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on Friday, February 3, 2017 at 11:00am at Faith Chapel Mentone, 1259 Agate Avenue, Mentone, California 92359. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lester's name to the Redlands Bench Warmers at www.redlandsbenchwarmers.org or to Faith Chapel Mentone with a designation to the Royal Ranger program, 1259 Agate Avenue, Mentone, CA 92359.
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Published by San Bernardino County Sun on Jan. 26, 2017.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sbsun/name/lester-cowen-obituary?id=8110347