Wilma Cooper Cowles

Wilma Cooper Cowles, 93, a fourth generation South Floridian and long-time resident of Ft. Pierce, died December 8, 2007, in Miami, Florida. She was born in 1914 in Ojus, Florida, and graduated with honors from Homestead High School. She moved to Ft. Pierce in 1931, married in 1938, and became a significant contributing member of the business and artistic community. She owned and operated the Wilma C. Cowles Insurance Agency, which she sold in 1965. She then worked for twenty years as Secretary/Treasurer of Peacock Fruit & Cattle Corporation, retiring in 1985 at age 71, was a correspondent for the Miami Herald for many years, and a founding member of the group that formed Harbor Federal Savings Bank.Wilma was a member of the First Baptist Church and past president of the Ft. Pierce Woman’s Club. An accomplished pianist, she often performed at various social events. Her passion, however, was the arts and theatre. She was co-founder and past president of the St. Lucie Theater (today the Pineapple Players), and over the years was involved in almost every production as a director, producer, or actress.Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Winston “Pete” Cowles, her grandson, J. Steven Hankins, and her parents, Wilbur L. and Eula Daniel Cooper. Survivors include her five children, Hart Cowles Stephenson and Harley Cowles (wife Vicki) of Ft. Pierce, Daniel Cowles (wife Sharon) of Cumming, GA, Doris Cowles Poodry (husband Joseph) of Buffalo, NY, and Dr. Mollie Cowles DeHart (husband Dr. Stan) of Miami, FL. She has two surviving younger siblings, Reverend Dr. Edgar Cooper of Jacksonville, FL, and Marjorie Cooper Baird, of Atlanta, GA, as well as seven grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. Despite her many business and artistic achievements, Wilma proudly proclaimed that her greatest accomplishment was her children.A memorial service is being planned for early 2008. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Wilma’s name to the Ft. Pierce Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 3794, Ft. Pierce, FL 34948, the Pineapple Players, or to a charity of choice