Patricia A. Cowell, 92, passed away April 10, 2024 at her residence in Anacortes, WA. Pat was born April 7, 1932 in Topeka, KS to Ernest and Dorothy Stephens Piatt. She graduated from Topeka High School in 1950 and received a scholarship to attend a teachers' college in Emporia, KS; however, Pat was already smitten by her future husband, and chose to remain in Topeka where she attended Washburn University and studied business. Pat married Walter L. Cowell, a graduate of Kansas University in 1952. In 1957 the couple moved to Oxnard, CA when Walt, a civil engineer, accepted a civilian position with the Naval Civil Engineering Lab in Port Hueneme. Their daughter was born in 1960. During this period Pat worked part- and full-time as a secretary and completed more coursework at Ventura College.

The year 1969 brought major changes: Walt traveled to Vietnam to run the Navy's Material Testing Lab and Pat went back to work full-time at a local stock brokerage.Three years later, in 1972 Walt returned from Vietnam and was transferred to the Western Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command in San Bruno, CA. In 1974 Pat also went to work at WESTDIV, beginning what would become a 20-year career in federal service. Pat worked in the Office of the Counsel as a legal secretary, and then as secretary to the Executive Officer at WESTDIV. She finished out her career working as a Support Specialist for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Western Region in San Bruno, CA. Pat was recognized with numerous service and achievement awards throughout her federal career.

Pat was full of energy and gave her complete focus to any project she undertook. Pat was diligent about keeping in touch with distant relatives and friends through cards, letters and phone calls. Her grandchildren were a great source of joy and she attended all manner of their events and school activities.  As they grew older, she was always anxious to hear updates of their lives. Pat's favorite hobby was bargain shopping.  She delighted in recounting where and under what circumstances each of her finds had been procured.

Pat and Walt lived in Pacifica, CA from 1972 to 2007 until moving to St. Charles, IL to be closer to their daughter and her family. In his final years, Walt suffered chronic illness, and Pat lovingly devoted herself to his care until his passing in April 2012. Pat and Walt were happily married over 60 years. When Pat's daughter and husband relocated to Anacortes, WA in 2020, Pat agreed to follow in 2021 and resided at Chandler's Square Retirement Community.

Pat is missed by her daughter Nancy and son-in-law Peter Allen of Anacortes, WA; grandchildren Evan (Karla) Allen, Bolingbrook, IL and Adair Allen, Indianapolis, IN. She is survived by her sister Linda (Lonnie) Davis, Sardinia, OH; cousin Shirley (Mel) Christenberry,  sister-in-law Eula Mae Cowell, nieces Ellen Guthrie and Sharon Miller all of Topeka, KS. Inurnment is at Memorial Park Cemetery, Topeka, KS.

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