COWLES, Ruth Naomi (Bliss), 1903-2000

COWLES, WHIRRY, BLISS, DRAPE, WILKINS, BRAND

Posted By: Bruce Kuennen (email)
Date: 1/22/2017 at 12:42:22

NEW HAMPTON -Naomi Cowles, 97 a former longtime resident of New Hampton, died Nov. 14, 2000 in Tampa, FL following a short illness

A Memorial Service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in New Hampton at a later date. Her body was cremated.

Ruth Naomi Cowles was born June 13,1903, the daughter of Elmer James and Clara (Whirry) Bliss. She graduated from New Hampton High School in 1921 and continued her education at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls and at Fayette University. She taught for three years in the rural schools of Chickasaw County and five years at Alta Vista Public School. On June 3, 1924, she married Arnold W. Drape at New Hampton. They were later divorced and on June 26, 1946 she married Arthur W. Cowles at Hampton.

Mrs. Cowles was employed by the New Hampton Newspaper from 1936 to 1942 when she became Chickasaw County Auditor, serving in that position until 1948. During that period she was secretary of the Iowa State Auditor's Association for one year. In 1949 she was appointed secretary to the Board of Education and to the Superintendent for New Hampton Community Schools, a position she held for 21 years.

In 1970, Mrs. Cowles retired and moved to Syracuse, NY to be near her son and family, returning to New Hampton in 1972 due to the illness of her sister, Attorney Evelyn B. Wilkins and assisted in her law office. Following the death of her sister in 1979, she was employed at the New Hampton Newspapers until her retirement in 1981.

Mrs. Cowles was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in New Hampton, where she had the distinction of having the longest membership, dating from 1910. She was a 50-year member of the Methodist Choir, a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star, a 50-year member of Home Study Circle, a department of the Women's Federated Club.

Surviving are her son, Arnold (Bill) Drape Jr.; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Arthur in November 1946; two sisters, Marian Brand and Evelyn Wilkins.

Source: New Hampton Tribune Nov. 24, 2000
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee

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