Mildred D. Cowan

Mildred D. "Millie" (Bixler) Cowan, 76, died peacefully Tuesday morning at home with her loving family by her side. She was the wife of William H. Cowan with whom she observed a 56th wedding anniversary on March 21st. A celebration of life service will be 10 a.m. Monday, October 12, 2009 at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 1551 Kenneth Rd., York with the Rev. Leon H. Denlinger officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Rose Cemetery. Viewing will be 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 to 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Mrs. Cowan was born November 20, 1932, in Valley View, Schuylkill County. She was the daughter of the late Calvin and Susannah Rebekah (Kissinger) Bixler. She was a graduate of Porter High School in Tower City and later the Central Penn Business School in Harrisburg. Following graduation she worked for two and a half years as a trainer with the former Farm Bureau Insurance Co., now Nationwide, before taking time off to raise her family. In 1969 she joined her husband's businesses, P & H Distributors and P W Strickland as the firms' bookkeeper and also served as vice president and secretary-treasurer until retiring in 2002. She was a stickler for detail and organization both at work and home and enjoyed tending her rose garden or reading a good book. She was a former member of St. John's Lutheran Church. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Cowan leaves her two sons, Eric Cowan and wife, Debra of York and David Cowan and wife Rebecca of Thomasville; her daughter, Susan Kraft and husband, Clifford of West Union, WV; her grandson, Jesse Cowan of York; and five sisters. She was preceded in death by four brothers. Memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA, 3159 Susquehanna Trail North, York, PA 17402.