Paul Vincent McCowin, Sr.

Paul V. McCowin, Sr., 82 of Biloxi passed away Thursday, December 13, 2012, at Ocean Springs Hospital. He was born in Butler, PA to Ferdinand Leslie McCowin and Nora Moniot McCowin. He resided there until graduation from Butler High School. He then chose to enter the U.S. Air Force for four years, being stationed in Texas, Wyoming and Arlington. VA. He married his long-time sweetheart, Mona Robinson, on her 18th birthday, August 18, 1951 in Butler, PA. They celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in August, 2012. They resided in the Washington, DC area until their move to Fort Walton Beach, FL in 1956 and finally to Biloxi in 1963. Paul was a Zenith Representative for the Gulf Coast area for 30 years, working for Nelson Wholesale Company of Mobile, AL, retiring in 1990. He was a long-time member of Sunkist Country Club where he served on the Board of Directors and on many committees. He was an avid golfer and played regularly with a group of friends known as the WAG (Wednesday Afternoon Golfers) group. He particularly enjoyed working with NBC at the PGA’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Springs, CA. Paul loved good music; his favorite was the big band style. He was a drummer in the high school band, and continued playing in small groups for numerous venues on the coast throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s. He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Bill McCowin and Bert McCowin, both of Butler, PA and Tom McCowin of Daytona Beach, FL; sisters, Edith O’Day of Arlington, VA and Eleanor Campbell of Brandywine, MD. Paul is survived by his wife, Mona; children, Vince McCowin, Jr., (Carol) of Coto de Caza, CA, Shelly Johnstone of Hernando MS, and Pat McCowin (Heidi) of Biloxi; six grandchildren, Ashlee McCowin and Ali McCowin of Coto de Caza, CA, Leslie Johnstone Hilliard (Bill) of Ecru, MS, Colin Johnstone (Christy) of Oxford MS, Sarah McCowin, and Layla McCowin. Of Biloxi, MS. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Glick, of Annapolis, MD. Many thanks to the wonderful staff of Ocean Springs Nursing Center, Ocean Springs Hospital and Singing River Hospice of Light. Special thanks to Dr. Ryan Logan and Coast Cardiovascular Consultants, especially Dr. Michael Cunningham. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, December 17, 2012 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church at 12:30 p.m., where friends may visit one hour before service time. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the St. Vincent De Paul Society, P.O. Box 4098, Biloxi, MS, 39531, or the Mississippi Coastal Health Care Foundation (Hospice of Light), 2012 Highway 90, Suite 34, Gautier, MS 39553.