Dr. C.S. Cowles

Dr. C.S. Cowles, of Nampa Idaho, was gathered in the arms of his heavenly father on Monday August 7 at his home peacefully surrounded by family. A “Celebration of Life” service will be held on Tuesday, August 15th at 10:00 am at Nampa College Church of the Nazarene, 504 E. Dewey Ave. – Services are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave. So. – Nampa – 208-442-8171. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

Dr. Cowles was born in West Point California, a Sierra logging town on April 18, 1935. He was raised in a pastor’s home. His parents served as missionaries in Hong Kong, China during his teen years. He attended what is now Azusa Pacific University and Pasadena College, now Point Loma Nazarene University. He would later teach Religion and Theology at both of those Universities. In the summer after they married, CS and Marge moved to Kansas City where he graduated from Nazarene Theological Seminary with his Masters of Divinity. He received his PHD in Theology from San Francisco Seminary in 1973. Dr. Cowles pastored Nazarene Churches in California, Georgia, and Washington. While teaching full time at NNU, he was interim pastor for 10 local congregations. He was a professor of Religion and Theology at Northwest Nazarene University from 1975 – 2001 and Point Loma Nazarene University 2001 – 2011. After retirement from PLNU, Dr. Cowles continued to teach part-time online courses for Indiana Wesleyan Universities until May 2017. He authored and published four books and numerous religious articles, and Adult Sunday School materials. His books are: “Family Journey Into Joy”, “A Women’s Place”, “Show them No Mercy”, “Who is God”. Dr. Cowles loved the outdoors, camping and backpacking in the Idaho Sawtooth and California High Sierra. He was an avid reader of all kinds of literature. He was a runner and in his later years walked miles everyday around their community. CS and Marge moved back to Nampa to retire in 2012. CS married Marjorie Garringer on February 8, 1957.

CS is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marjorie and their four children: sons - Dean Cowles and his wife Dr. Cheryl Cowles, missionaries in Kenya; Dwayne Cowles and his wife Tracie of Redlands, California; two daughters  - Debbie Dykhouse and her husband Rick of Fairfield, Connecticut.; Deanna Kinsman and her husband Paul, Nampa, Idaho. They are blessed with 15 grandchildren. CS has a brother Rev. David Cowles of Avon Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents Milton & Louvernia ,  stepmother Marie, his brother Dan Cowles and sister Barbara Cowles.

Dr. Cowles loved his family, his church, and most of all his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Northwest Nazarene University Religion Library, 623 S. University Blvd., Nampa, Idaho 83686.

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