Dr. Charles E. Cowen, Jr. of Kittery Point, Maine, passed away on September 10, 2025. He was known to his friends and family as Chuck or Charlie. He was born on November 2, 1929, in Homestead, Pennsylvania, to Dr. Charles E. Cowen, Sr., and Georgina Taylor Cowen.

Charlie became a dentist like his father and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Dental School, going on to build a career as a dentist in the Navy.

He married his sweetheart, Margaret Jean (Peg) Wilson, in 1953, and they went on to have four daughters. His military career afforded them the opportunity to travel the United States and the world. They enjoyed their travels with their military duties, and they made many lifelong friends across the country along the way.

Charlie was an avid sailor, initially retiring to Boothbay Harbor, Maine, where he enjoyed his time sailing the New England coast. The family has fond memories of their many sailing trips. Charlie and Peg later moved to Kittery Point, Maine, where they spent the remainder of their retirement years.

Charlie was one of a kind; he was talented, creative, and an excellent dentist. He excelled at working with his hands, and he enjoyed carving beautiful shore birds, which earned him the affectionate title of "Uncle Duck". He also enjoyed gardening and building stone walls. He taught us to enjoy and appreciate nature, and we all learned the names of the birds, flowers, and trees around us as well as the stars above. As the father of four daughters, his favorite line was "atta boy girl!" and he taught us there was nothing we couldn't do.

Charlie is survived by his three daughters, Dr. Carolyn Chase of Rye, New Hampshire; Janice MacDonald and her husband, Bill, of Kittery Point, Maine; and Gail Mellor and her husband, Duncan, of Strafford, New Hampshire, as well as his grandchildren, Scott MacDonald, Sarah MacDonald, Teagan Mellor, and Tom Mellor. Charlie was predeceased by his devoted wife, Peg, in 2007, an amazing mom to their four daughters. He is also survived by son-in-law Craig Hanson. He was predeceased by his eldest daughter, Christine Hanson, in 2022, his younger brother, Dr. Carlton Roy Cowen, also a career Navy dentist, in 2001, his wife, Sally Cowen, in 2020, and Carolyn's partner, Carl Geraci, who passed away in August of this year. He is also survived by his nephews, Kenneth Cowen and Carl Cowen, and niece, Beth Rand, who were very much a part of the family's travels, gatherings, and adventures over the years. We cannot forget his beloved cat Yogi, who passed away a few months before Charlie.