Edwin Earl Cowart Jr.

Edwin E. Cowart, Jr. – ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA - Edwin E. Cowart, Jr., 87, of St Simons Island, GA, died on Friday, August 19, 2016 at Hospice of the Golden Isles, 6 days before his 88th birthday. Edwin lived a long and wonderful life and was adored by all who knew him. He was a humble man, never uttering an unkind word or criticism about anybody or anything. His positivity was infectious, and he will be terribly missed.

Mr. Cowart was a Georgia native. He was born in Atlanta on August 25, 1928 and grew up in Savannah. He attended The Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a member of the swim team and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity. While in college, he became known as “Easy Ed”. He was graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA emphasizing Banking and Insurance. While there, he headed Senator Richard Russell’s UGA campus campaign and was the President/EA of the UGA SAE chapter.

He served his country as a First Lieutenant in the Air Force during the Korean War from 1952 to 1957, where he was an excellent pilot, flying F-84 Thunderjet fighter-bombers out of the 158th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of Travis Field, Savannah, GA. He had an expansive insurance career, starting with Mutual of Omaha in the early 1950s, where he served as Director of Agencies in Omaha, NE, then as Regional Sales Director for the Western States, and then as General Agent for the state of Wyoming, where he remained until 1963 when he moved to Savannah, GA to run Edwin E. Cowart Jr. & Associates/The Cowart Insurance Group for the remainder of his career. In recent years, he slowed down professionally, but anyone familiar with Edwin knows he never fully retired, using his gentle manner to continually stay in touch and help his customers. A very warm and kind man, he had only friends in this world.

Edwin loved to sail, hunt, and fish, and he was an avid golfer. He was a member of the Savannah Yacht Club, where he sailed Lightnings (Vixson) and Ocean Racing (Geechee syndicate). He was also a member of the Savannah Sport Fishing Club (Alwin, Easy One). For 20 years, he played golf at the Sea Island Club and at age 74, got his first hole-in-one!

Edwin was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was preceded in death by his father, Edwin E. Cowart, Sr.; his mother, Lena Mae Cooper Cowart; and his first wife, Laura McGuire Cowart, mother to his four sons.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria Dobbs Cowart of Atlanta and St Simons Island, GA; his four sons, Edwin Earl Cowart III (Susan Cohen) of Middleton, MA, Stuart Thurston Cowart (Margaret Small) of Hopkinton, MA, Emerson Duke Cowart, Sr. (Lolly Saunders) of Savannah, GA, and W. Stroud Cowart, Sr. (Tricia Ward) of Lookout Mountain, TN; his grandchildren, Sarah Cowart, Edwin Cowart, Georgia Cowart, Clay Cowart, Duke Cowart, Lola Elizabeth Cowart, Stroud Cowart, and Winston Cowart; his sister, Alice Cowart Martin of Nashville, TN; his nephew William Martin (Kris) of Nashville and a niece Vicky Panhans (Alex) of Hilton Head, SC. His step children are Wesley Dobbs, Janet Roach (Chip), both of Atlanta, GA, and his step grandchildren are Mallory Dobbs, Charles Roach (Kimberly), Elizabeth Roach Ferris (Phillip), and Kathleen Roach.

The family offers sincere gratitude to Dr. Mitchell Jones for all his care and support, and also offers thanks to Dr. Duane Moores, Dr. David Kranc and all the numerous medical professionals who helped Edwin these last years.

The Interment will be held at Hillcrest Abbey East Cemetery, Savannah, GA on Friday, Sept 16, 2016 at 3:30 PM with a reception to follow. A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held at First Baptist Church in St. Simons on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 at 2 PM. A reception will follow at 104 Troon in the Island Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Golden Isles, First Baptist Church St Simons, or a charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home in Brunswick, GA. Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.edomillerandsons.com.