Ruth Caldwell Cowan, a member of the Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home family and wife of former owner, Sam Cowan, died September 3, 2009, at the age of 89. Born in Newton County, the former Ruth Caldwell moved with her parents, the late Gilbert and Lucy Edwards Caldwell, to Covington in the early 1930s. An early member of Covington Presbyterian Church, she and Olive Bradshaw were the first members of that church baptized by Rev. Peter Marshall. Mrs. Cowan was an Honors graduate of Covington High School, and attended Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville for two years. She was employed by Callaway Mills in Milstead for four years and Southern Paper Brokerage Company for four years, prior to her marriage to Sam Cowan in 1948. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Cowan lived in Nashville, TN, for a year while he attended John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science. They returned to Newton County in 1950, where Mr. Cowan joined with his brother-in-law, Lewis Caldwell, to form Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home. Mrs. Cowan worked for Bibb Manufacturing Company in Porterdale for 15 years prior to joining her husband and brother at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home in 1965. She retired from Caldwell & Cowan in 1991, but remained active in the business for several more years. An active member of Covington First United Methodist Church in earlier years, she and her husband worked with the youth of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Cowan would have celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in October. In addition to her husband, Sam Cowan, Mrs. Cowan is survived by nephews, Ike and Terri Hay of Millersville, PA, Judson and Ginger Caldwell of Covington; great-nieces, Kate C. and Mannin Tucker, Mariah Hay and Mistral Hay; great-nephew, Adam and Angie Cooper; great-great-nieces, Lenzie Rutledge and Samantha Cooper. She was preceded in death by her brother, Lewis D. Caldwell, and sister, Florice Caldwell Hay. Funeral Services for Mrs. Cowan will be held Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4 PM, at the Chapel of Caldwell & Cowan, 1215 Access Rd., with the Rev. Dr. Douglas Gilreath and Dr. Royeese Stowe officiating, and interment following in Lawnwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Saturday, September 5, from 5-8 PM.