Arlene Cowan, 93, of Newcastle, passed away peacefully at Harbor View Cottage on Aug. 26 with family at her side. Arlene was born in Hartford, Conn. on July 21, 1925.
She spent her early years growing up in East Berlin, Conn., spending summers on her grandparents’ farm in Alna. With her parents, Fred and Ruth Webster, and her siblings, Ray and Jane, she moved to Maine permanently in 1942.
Arlene graduated from Lincoln Academy in 1943. After high school, during WWII, she worked at Bath Iron Works as a timekeeper on the USS Higbee (the first U.S. warship named for a female member of the U.S. Navy). Later she worked at Nash Telephone and Clark’s Spa.
She met her future husband, Tiny Cowan, and they married in 1949. They moved from Damariscotta to Newcastle where they raised their children, Gail and Mark. For a time, Arlene was a stay-at-home mom, but she eventually went back to work at Saltwater Farm and then Nash/Continental Telephone from which she retired after 18 years.
Through the years, Arlene and her family enjoyed many summers on Biscay Pond, either at their own cottage, or cottages of family members. Arlene and Tiny bought a final home on Biscay, where she lived until moving to Lincoln Home in 2011.
Arlene was predeceased by husband, Hubert “Tiny” Cowan; parents, Fred and Ruth Webster; brother, Raymond; and sister-in-law, Marjorie.
She is survived by daughter, Gail and son-in-law Gary Passineau of Bethel, Conn.; son, Mark of Portland; granddaughter, Vicki Cowan of Virginia; sister, Jane Leavitt of Nobleboro; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lydia and Peter Van Varick of Florida; Marcia Cowan of Damariscotta; and several nieces and nephews.
A time of visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., Thurs., Aug. 30 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m., Fri., Aug. 31, also at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Arlene’s memory to the Lincoln Home Scholarship; the Twin Village Women’s Club; or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta, ME 04543. Condolences, and messages for her family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
