A graveside service for Col. Paul Mertins Gowan, U.S. Army (Ret.), 85, of Laurel Crest, S.C., was held Friday, Jan. 16 at 11 a.m. in Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Col. Gowan died Sunday, Jan. 11. Born in Clanton, he was the son of the late J. Earl and Ruth Johnson Gowan. He attended Birmingham Southern College for his pre-dental degree and received his dental degree (DDS) from Emory University in 1946. He served over 30 years in the U.S. Army, having many stateside assignments and overseas assignments in the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Germany and Vietnam. He retired February 1978 at Fort Jackson.
Surviving are sons and daughters-in-law, Earl H. and Shauna Gowan of Rock Hill, Paul M. Gowan Jr. and Caroline Herman of Abu Dhabi, and Karl S. Gowan of West Columbia; grandsons, Timothy Gowan and his wife, Cathy, of Lawton, Okla., Tyler Gowan of Rock Hill, Harrison Gowan of Abu Dhabi; granddaughters, Sidney Gowan and Chrystina Gowan, both of Rock Hill; great-granddaughter, Savannah Gowan of Lawton; and sisters, Ruth Higgins and Sally Speaks, both Clanton, Ala. He was predeceased by his wife, Ellen Shiff Gowan, in 1974.
Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans at the following address: P.O. Box 1430, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.