Elizabeth Cowell
May 6, 1936-May 29, 2026
Palo Alto, California
Submitted by David Cowell

Known as Beth, V. Elizabeth Cowell transitioned to her eternal rest on May 29, 2026 with her children close at hand. She was born to loving parents, Robert Rahe and Jessie Mae Reynolds Rahe at Stanford Hospital and raised in San Jose and Menlo Park. Beth was in the second graduating class of Menlo Atherton High School and attended the University of Oregon. In Eugene, she was a member of Tri-Delta Sorority which provided the opportunity for life-long friendships. She also met her future husband, Russell Neal Cowell. Beth and Russ lived in Oregon for a few years after graduation and gave birth to two children while Russ taught high school history.

The small family moved to Palo Alto after her father passed on to assist in the family business, Cooks Seafood and the Bib and Tucker Restaurant. Over the next few years, she gave birth to another child and began working for the family restaurant but soon began work as a receptionist then business manager at a local dental office-Huira, Huira and Nakamitsu. After growing in her professional life, she later became the business manager for the Children's Health Council.

Beth was widowed at the age of 48, mourned deeply then began a new chapter in her life. She was a staunch ally of working women and women's health and joined the board of the Mayfield Community Health Center. She completed her certification as an Enrolled Agent, preparing complex financials for a Palo Alto CPA enterprise.

She deeply loved and cared for her children throughout her life. She was smart, funny, kind and a great cook, influenced by Julia Child and Sunset Magazine.

Her life was exponentially impacted by the friendships and connections she made when she began playing bridge. For many years, she was an active player at the Palo Alto Bridge Club. Beth became a Bridge Life Master then a Bronze Life Master while finding lasting companionship with her "bridge friends." Beth loved to travel and was an early visitor to the People's Republic of China in the 1980's. She also deeply valued the community and the book club connected to St Mark's Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, which fed her intellect and faith journey.

She will be greatly missed by her children Kimberley Cowell (Scott Wright), Robert Cowell, and David Cowell (Peter Ohm), She will also be missed by Lynne Anderson and Mel Thrash, also family members as well as family in Seattle and Texas and many friends. She was also predeceased by Jessie Kane, Robert's life partner.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to Emily's List.