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Loren Cowles
("Papas")
Loren graduated from the U.S. Navy Flight School in Pensecola, Florida in February 1938. He served on two aircraft carriers – the Lexington and the Wasp. The Wasp was sunk in the Pacific in September 1942. Loren was sleeping on deck under the wing of his airplane when the torpedoes hit. He was in water for 11 hours before being rescued.
Loren and Ruth moved frequently during his Navy career, but they finally settled down in Walnut Creek, California in 1950. Their house cost them the princely sum of $11,450. Ruth still lives there.
Loren was a consumate tinkerer. The house was constantly full of tools and machinery of all kinds. When personal computers appeared in the late 1970's, he promptly filled the spare bedroom with every example he could get his hands on.
Loren passed away on May 20, 1988.