Franklin Dewitt Cowell

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Franklin DeWitt Cowell, 85, of Reelsboro, North Carolina passed away on Friday, July 14, 2023.  He was born on September 14, 1937 in Bayboro, North Carolina.  He traveled the world with his lifelong military career retiring from the United States Air Force and proudly serving 21 years, 6 months, and 18 days then retired from NADEP, Cherry Point after an additional 27 years as a Harrier jet mechanic.

On April 25, 1955 Franklin joined the United States Air Force and went to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.  After basic training he was sent to Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas for 5 months.

A few days before Christmas in December 1955; he arrived in England at Royal Air Force (RAF) Mildenhall and was stationed at RAF Bruntingthorpe in crash rescue as a fireman.  He would often mention how they would travel in a firetruck convoy from Mildenhall to Leicester; as well as, just reminisce about this important part of his life.

During his time in Leicestershire, England he met his bride of almost 65 years, Patricia Ann Holmes.  They were married on September 27, 1958 and they would end up having four children together.  He returned to the USA in 1960 and stayed in North Carolina for a few months before being stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia near a missile base at Newport News.

In 1963, he returned to England and was stationed at RAF Bentwaters which is about 80 miles NE of London and 10 miles ENE of Ipswich near Woodbridge, Suffolk.  He was stationed there from 1963-1967.  He returned stateside again and was stationed at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado for about a year and a half.

He always loved England and wanted to be stationed there every time he got the opportunity so while in Colorado he was so happy to get the opportunity to move back to England.  From 1969-1974, he was stationed at a munitions base, RAF Welford, near Newbury about 50 miles WSW of London.  During his time at RAF Welford, he spoke of working on the old German WWII bombs and preparing them to be sent to Vietnam.  He spent the last 2 years of his Air Force career (1974-1975) being stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in the panhandle of Florida.

After retiring from the United States Air Force he began his second career as a Harrier jet aircraft mechanic.  He often spoke of how much he loved that job and his many good memories.  After retiring from Cherry Point, his biggest joy was spending time with his grandchildren and growing a big vegetable garden; as well as, collecting pecan nuts and giving the vegetables and pecans away to family and friends.  He definitely had a green thumb and was very skilled in horticulture.

He was a very wise man, he could be strict, but was very kind too.  He was an extremely hard worker and loved nature, Native American Indian culture, discussing finances, western movies, and always had such interesting stories of being a young entrepreneur when he was a young boy.  His words of wisdom will live on in his family and he will truly be missed by all that knew him.

Franklin is preceded in death by his parents, Carol Allen Cowell Sr. and Amy Brinson Cowell; siblings, infant baby sister, Lelia Cowell; sisters, Laura Simpson, Gladys Abbott, and Minnie Mae Spencer; and brother, Carroll Allen Cowell Jr; as well as, son-in-law Anthony DiPietro and numerous nieces and nephews.

Franklin is survived by his devoted wife, Patricia Holmes Cowell of Reelsboro; sister, Connie Lewis of Dunnellon, Florida; brothers, Steven Cowell of Woodland, Washington and Timothy Cowell of Reelsboro, North Carolina; one son, Russell Cowell (Carolyn) of Arapahoe, North Carolina; and three daughters, Nicola DiPietro of Tucson, Arizona, Alison Francis (Mike) of Reidsville, North Carolina, and Sarah Smith (Charles) of New Bern, North Carolina; along with seven grandchildren, Heather DiPietro of New York, New York, Celeste DiPietro of Tucson, Arizona, Ivan and Iain Cowell of Arapahoe, North Carolina, and Tristan Smith, Alistair Smith and Francesca Smith of New Bern, North Carolina.

His funeral service, with military honors, will be held at Daniels-Sadler Funeral Home in Alliance, North Carolina on July 24th at 11:00 a.m. Private interment will be in Cowell Cemetery.