Mr. Joe T. Cowling, Sr., 69, passed away on Monday, December 10, 2007, at Ringgold County Hospital. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, December 20, 2007, at the Calvary Baptist Church in Leon. Inurnment will be at Oakwood Cemetery at a later date.

Joe was born on June 5, 1938, to John and Leah Cowling in Des Moines, where he lived for most of his life, until moving to Leon, Iowa in 1994. He spent most of his working life as a truck driver, retiring from

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, a son, and three grandsons.

He is survived by his wife, Dixie; his son, Joe Jr. and his wife, Deb; his daughter, Melody and step-daughter, Deborah; 12 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, four brothers and two sisters; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.