Robert William McGowan, Jr.
In Memory Of
Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center Somerville and Oakland, Tennessee (901) 465-3535 www.PeeblesFuneralHome.com
Robert William McGowan, Jr. June 5, 1922 ~ May 17, 2017
Robert William McGowan, Jr., born June 5, 1922, died peacefully on May 17, 2017 at the age of 94 at the VA Nursing Home in Oxford, MS. Mr. McGowan was born in Paris, TN and received his B.A. at Lambuth College, where he was honored as a member of “Who’s Who Among College Students” and later presented with the “Distinguished Alumni Award”, and his M.A. from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. Mr. McGowan also completed additional coursework at the University of Missouri, the University of Idaho and the University of North Carolina. A great lover and interpreter of nature, McGowan was the first Naturalist in the Tennessee Department of Conservation State Parks, going on to win the “Distinguished Life-time Service Award” given by the Tennessee Environmental Education Association in 1994. A beloved professor of General Ecology, Field Botany and Ornithology at Memphis State College (now University of Memphis) and a winner of the “Distinguished Teaching Award”, McGowan taught his students to appreciate the wonders of our environment, with many going into the field of science and teaching themselves. Mr. McGowan wrote regular newspaper columns for the Buffalo River Review in Perry County, TN and the Bartlett Express newspaper. He also authored a book about nature in Middle Tennessee, “Sounds of Carter Creek”. Mr. McGowan was a proud member of the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the European Theater with the Third U.S. Army under General George Patton. He participated in the liberation of Auschwitz and other concentration camps. Mr. McGowan leaves his wife of 72 years, Ellen Fossey McGowan; his daughter, Beth McGowan; two granddaughters, Laura Moodie (Dan), Rachel Dobbs (Justin); and his great-granddaughter, Jordan Elizabeth Moodie. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert W. McGowan III, a victim of Agent Orange poisoning from his Army service in Vietnam. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to the Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Chapter Headquarters, 210 25th Avenue North, Suite 810, Nashville, TN 37203. Condolences may be left on our online guestbook at www.PeeblesFuneralHome.com.
In Memory Of
Robert William McGowan, Jr. Entered is Life June 5, 1922 Departed is Life May 17, 2017 Memorial Services with Military Honors 2 P.M. Saturday ~ May 27, 2017 Peebles West Funeral Chapel Oakland, Tennessee
O ciant Dean Andy Andrews St. Mary's Cathedral Memphis, Tennessee
Speaker Wesley Roberts Former Student of Mr. McGowan Poem Reading Mr. McGowan's Granddaughters Final Resting Place Rose Hill Cemetery Humboldt, Tennessee
Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center Somerville and Oakland, Tennessee (901) 465-3535 www.PeeblesFuneralHome.com
Robert William McGowan, Jr. June 5, 1922 ~ May 17, 2017
Robert William McGowan, Jr., born June 5, 1922, died peacefully on May 17, 2017 at the age of 94 at the VA Nursing Home in Oxford, MS. Mr. McGowan was born in Paris, TN and received his B.A. at Lambuth College, where he was honored as a member of “Who’s Who Among College Students” and later presented with the “Distinguished Alumni Award”, and his M.A. from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. Mr. McGowan also completed additional coursework at the University of Missouri, the University of Idaho and the University of North Carolina. A great lover and interpreter of nature, McGowan was the first Naturalist in the Tennessee Department of Conservation State Parks, going on to win the “Distinguished Life-time Service Award” given by the Tennessee Environmental Education Association in 1994. A beloved professor of General Ecology, Field Botany and Ornithology at Memphis State College (now University of Memphis) and a winner of the “Distinguished Teaching Award”, McGowan taught his students to appreciate the wonders of our environment, with many going into the field of science and teaching themselves. Mr. McGowan wrote regular newspaper columns for the Buffalo River Review in Perry County, TN and the Bartlett Express newspaper. He also authored a book about nature in Middle Tennessee, “Sounds of Carter Creek”. Mr. McGowan was a proud member of the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the European Theater with the Third U.S. Army under General George Patton. He participated in the liberation of Auschwitz and other concentration camps. Mr. McGowan leaves his wife of 72 years, Ellen Fossey McGowan; his daughter, Beth McGowan; two granddaughters, Laura Moodie (Dan), Rachel Dobbs (Justin); and his great-granddaughter, Jordan Elizabeth Moodie. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert W. McGowan III, a victim of Agent Orange poisoning from his Army service in Vietnam. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to the Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Chapter Headquarters, 210 25th Avenue North, Suite 810, Nashville, TN 37203. Condolences may be left on our online guestbook at www.PeeblesFuneralHome.com.
In Memory Of
Robert William McGowan, Jr. Entered is Life June 5, 1922 Departed is Life May 17, 2017 Memorial Services with Military Honors 2 P.M. Saturday ~ May 27, 2017 Peebles West Funeral Chapel Oakland, Tennessee
O ciant Dean Andy Andrews St. Mary's Cathedral Memphis, Tennessee
Speaker Wesley Roberts Former Student of Mr. McGowan Poem Reading Mr. McGowan's Granddaughters Final Resting Place Rose Hill Cemetery Humboldt, Tennessee
