John Thomas Cowling

He was born in Portland, Oregon on March 21, 1922 to Russell and Elizabeth Cowling with younger siblings Marie and Raymond. John led a full life alongside his family and friends and doing what he loved. After high school he joined the Local 29 Ironworkers Union, like his father, working for Mercer Steel for 42 years building most of Portland including the bridges, high rises, hospitals and the Oregon Zoo. In 1942 when he turned 20, John enlisted in the Navy to fight in World War II. Most of his 4yrs was spent on a Naval ship the USS Degrasse in the south pacific moving supplies and providing support for other troops, receiving 4 medals before his honorable discharge in 1946. John rejoined the Ironworkers Union after the Navy, continuing his career until his retirement in 1986.

John’s passions were his family, the beach, bowling, participating in shuffleboard tournaments, and working in his yard. He also was a great artist, whether it was his drawings and sketches or schematics for his next new project. He enjoyed working with wood and building whatever project he could come up with and was never without one. John loved baseball, playing when he was younger and then for Portland softball team, Trout-Emerick, in 1947 after the war. He enjoyed playing golf and was out on the course any chance he had when it was nice out.

He is survived by daughter Judy Saylor and grandchildren Chris Stanley and Rechelle Yoder.

John’s committal ceremony will be held at Willamette National Cemetery with military honors on Friday November 1st 2019, at 12:30pm. We will be directed to the site before 12:30, from the main administration building after coming in the main gate and driving to the committal shelter as they assign them the day of the service.

Please join us afterwards for a celebration of John’s life with lunch and refreshments at his home in Gresham, 7 miles from Willamette National at 2385 SE Wendy Dr, Gresham, Oregon 97080.