Bobby Lowe Cowan

Bobby Lowe Cowan Sr., born to Alex and Vivian (Lowe) Cowan, went home to be with Jesus on November 15, 2018 at the age of 85. Bob was born on September 27, 1933 in Monroe, Louisiana and grew up in Georgetown, Mississippi. He enjoyed spending time with his Grandpa Ira, often working with him in his sawmill. In high school, he enjoyed playing sports, especially basketball, track and football. Shortly after graduation in 1951, he was drafted into the Army. After completing training in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, he was stationed overseas on the Japanese island of Okinawa as an anti-aircraft gunner.
Upon returning to the States, he began working in the oil fields and passed through the town of Dolores, Colorado where he met a beautiful, brunette book keeper at a dance at the American Legion one fateful, crisp evening in March of 1958. Bob proposed to her three months later and married the love of his life, Genevieve (Ginger) Louise Willbanks from McPhee, Colorado on September 28, 1958. Bob continued working in the oil field industry for several more years, but he and Ginger eventually decided to settle down and move the family back to the Cortez area where he got a job operating a LeTourneau log stacker at the Montezuma Plywood Plant just outside of Dolores.
Wanting to start a small business of their own, Bob and Ginger found the opportunity they were looking for and in 1964 they made the life changing decision to buy the Honest John’s Drive-In on North Broadway in Cortez. Promptly changing the name of the restaurant to Bob’s Drive-In, Bob and Ginger worked together and ran the restaurant for over 30 years, quickly gaining the reputation for having the best burgers and curly fries in town. In the process, they raised four boys: Bobby Jr, Curtis, Mark, and Kelly.
Retiring from the restaurant in 1997, Bob, who loved working in his shop and was always tinkering and fixing things, turned his attention to one of his favorite hobbies, carpentry and wood working. He began repairing and restoring antique furniture and also worked with some local builders to do custom carpentry work and high-end finishes for new homes in the area. Bob was an avid hunter and always looked forward to hunting season every year, taking home his share of elk, deer, pheasant, and grouse. He loved planting and tending to his garden every year and had also cultivated a small orchard, where he had planted many varieties of trees, including apple, pear, walnut, plum and peach.
Bob and Ginger celebrated Bob’s 85th birthday and their 60th wedding anniversary this past September with the entire family. Bob is survived by his beloved wife Ginger; his four sons, Bobby (Becky), Curtis (Lucy), Mark (Patrick) and Kelly (Susan); his sister Betty Castle; six grandchildren, Brooke, Richard, Hana, Travis, Haley, and John; and his great grandson, Brayden Lowe. Bob knew the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior and attended Rock Springs Church.
The family will be celebrating Bob’s life on Friday, November 23 and welcome family and friends to come and share their stories and memories from 2-4 pm at 24713 County Road P in Dolores.