Doris Ann Cowgill

Doris Ann (Nordyke) Cowgill, 95, of Malvern, PA passed away, at The Inverness Assisted Living Facility in Spartanburg, SC, on August 31, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born to parents Bliss and Velma (Wynkoop) Nordyke, on June 7, 1931, in Danville, IL, but grew up in Wolcott, IN, after her father, a pharmacist, returned to Wolcott to take over the Nordyke Drug Store from his father. Doris worked all her childhood years in her father’s pharmacy where she performed a variety of jobs from manning the soda fountain to re-stocking the store to delivering medications to patients. The Nordyke’s owned and ran the drug store for three generations from 1914 through 2006, when Doris’ brother, Bob, retired. Doris attended Butler University in Indianapolis from 1949 to 1953 receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. While at college Doris was an active member of Delta Gamma Sorority and was Sorority President her senior year. Doris met her future husband, Carroll Cowgill, while attending Butler and they were married on August 23, 1955, while he was serving in the US Navy. For one year he was based out of Naples, Italy and while he was at sea, Doris would travel Europe with the other wives spending time in London, Paris, Vienna, Monaco and Rome amongst other places.

Upon completion of his Navy stint, they moved to Cincinnati, OH, where Carroll began his sales career. While there Doris gave birth to their first daughter, Carole Ann. Shortly thereafter they moved to Columbus, OH, where their second daughter, Susan Rae, was born. In 1966, they moved to Berwyn, PA where Doris joined the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), a women’s organization founded in 1869 that supports women’s education through scholarships, grants and loans. She became Chapter O, President in 1982-83. She actively participated for over 50 years receiving the PEO Gold Star for her service. While in Berwyn the entire family became avid golfers, becoming members of Whitford and Aronomink Country Clubs in PA and the Country Club of South Carolina. The family frequently traveled south to get lessons from top golf instructors and to play. Both girls won major championships as junior golfers in PA while Doris frequently volunteered her time to help manage the Chester County Golf Programs. Doris and Carroll were divorced in the mid-eighties and Doris remained in Berwyn until she moved to her town home in Malvern, PA, in 2001.

Right out of college, Doris started teaching elementary school in Indiana and Ohio prior to her move to PA. She volunteered as a substitute teacher at Hillside Elementary School and as the Girl Scout Cookie Chairman for many years. In 1986, Doris went to work for the Alcoholism Council of Delaware County where she managed the DUI Program and supported the Suicide Hotline. Later she became the receptionist for Dr. Swartley, a Malvern-based dentist, for 15 years. Doris was an avid reader and kept pages upon pages of handwritten lists of all the books she had read – hundreds! She was a loving mother and grandmother deeply involved in the lives of her children supporting them in so many ways. She frequently became host for one or more cats and dogs, especially all the Pembroke Welsh Corgis, who adored her as much as she adored them. She was a long-time member of Paoli Presbyterian Church.

Doris is survived by her daughter Carole Ann Lauchner, her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Devynne. Her daughter Susan Rae Lewis and her two sons, Kyle and Zachary. Neice, Cynthia Basham and nephews, Robert and John Nordyke. She is pre-deceased by her parents, and brother, Robert Norydke.

Celebrations of life are being planned for Malvern, PA and Wolcott, IN in the near future.

Donations (checks) instead of flowers can be sent to: PEO Program for Continuing Education, PEO Program Executive Office, Treasurer’s Department, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312-2899.