Ronald Cowling Death, Obituary – Stamps, Arkansas’s Ronald Joe Cowling, age 82, passed away in the hospital on January 7, 2023, following a brief hospitalization. Cowling Joe was born on July 7, 1940, in Nashville, Arkansas. The Cowlings’ names were Wesley and Doris. Both of his parents and his older brother, Gary Cowling, had passed on before him. Being an only child is a privilege and a burden.
Joe is a qualified educator and mathematician thanks to his studies at Southern Arkansas University and the University of Arkansas. Joe had tremendous success as a collegiate running back. Joe spent two years coaching high school football in Arkansas after he graduated.
After that, he juggled teaching math and taking care of his family by coaching the Stamps, Arkansas, football team. Joe’s devotion to his team surpassed his interest in coaching. Under his direction, Stamps High School won many state championships in both football and track. Joe had a deep appreciation for his faith, kin, and community. Joe enjoyed his time as mayor, which he held for 12 years, and as a volunteer fireman. His devotion to daily Bible study earned him the position of deacon at Stamps’ First Baptist Church. Daily. Spending time with his grandkids ranked right up there with his passions for hunting, fishing, camping, and gardening. Seeing his grandchildren was a highlight of his week.
Joe coached for a while, then worked as an HR director for the Alan White Furniture Company until retiring 24 years later. Joe’s final employment was as a math tutor for South Arkansas Youth Services, and it was also the most rewarding. His family includes his wife of 60 years, Mary Ann Cowling of Stamps, Arkansas; two sons, Doug Cowling of Texarkana, Arkansas, and Lance Cowling and wife Amy of Atlanta, Texas; one brother, Bob Cowling and wife Rebecca of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; one granddaughter, Kelsey Martin and husband Tanner of Atlanta, Texas; one grandson, Jacob Cowling, and one great-grandson, Jett Martin, of Atlanta, Arkansas; and special cousins.
The impact of his untimely death on his loved ones is impossible to measure. On Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 1:00 pm, a funeral service will be held at Stamps’ First Baptist Church, with Brother Mike Turner serving as the officiant. After the funeral, the corpse will be taken to Lakeside Cemetery in Stamps, Arkansas, where it will be interred by Texarkana Funeral Home.
On January 13, 2023, between 5 and 7 p.m., the Stamps family will host a reception at the First Baptist Church in Stamps.