Leon (Lee), age 94, and Winifred (Winnie) Gowan, age 95, passed away peacefully at home two days apart in February 2019. They had been married 68 years.

Leon R. Gowan was born on March 14, 1924, in Claremont, South Dakota to Wesley D. and Leona E. (Eastman) Gowan. The family moved to Elma in 1936 where Lee graduated from Elma High School in 1942. He was a World War II veteran and earned the Soldier’s Medal of Valor. He retired from the Washington State Utilities Transportation Commission.

Lee is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Doris and Ruth, brothers Merle and Darrell, and several nieces and nephews.

Winifred (Winnie) L. Gowan was born on July 15, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Marion and Ruth (Marchant) Swenson. She graduated from Grand Forks High School in 1941 and moved to Washington in 1951. Winnie worked for the Bell Telephone Company in Aberdeen for many years. Winnie is survived by her sister Della Lium in Seattle and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Lee, her parents, sister Dorothy and brother Kenneth.

Lee and Winnie were married on May 12, 1951, in Elma. After several years of living in Grays Harbor, they relocated to Summit Lake, spending many pleasant years there. Together, they also enjoyed many years of camping and travel in their fifth wheel RV with family, friends and of course, their beloved dogs. They made many new friends on their journeys. They moved back to Elma in 1982.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.