William Albert Cowden, 76, Paola, a former Osawatomie resident, died Friday, March 14, 2008 in his home.

Born Aug, 12, 1931, in Osawatomie, he was the son of Nelson Shaw and Jessie LaJune Johnson Cowden. He attended Osawatomie High School, graduating in 1949. He married Evelyn Marie Haney on Aug. 28, 1952.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955.

Mr. Cowden worked as a carman in the Missouri Pacific Shops in Osawatomie from 1950 until the shops closed in 1957. He worked as a barber in Roy’s Barber Shop in Osawatomie from 1958 to 1970 before returning to the railroad as a trainman in 1970. He retired in 1984 as a conductor due to illness.

Mr. and Mrs. Cowden lived on a farm in Linn County before moving to Garnett in 1992.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Osawatomie.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Cowden of the home; two daughters, Belinda Lee Newport of La Cygne and Linda Rene Pfaltzgraff of Paola; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He will be cremated and private services are planned. Arrangements are being cared for by Heartland Cremation and Burial Society of Raytown, Mo.