Robert Cowden

Robert James Cowden, 78, passed away on March 31 at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Louis. He was a cost-allocation consultant for numerous cities and states and a strong supporter of charitable and educational organizations.

Born in Kansas City, Kansas, he attended Shawnee Mission North High School in Overland Park, Kansas, graduating in 1965, and attended the University of Kansas School of Business. Robert served in the U.S. Army Reserves, beginning in 1970. In 1971 he married Janet Lynn Snyder. The couple had a son, Evan James Cowden, in 1983.

Graduating with a degree in business in 1969, Robert took to the then-new field of computing, and his first job out of college was at the data center of his alma mater. Subsequently, Robert worked for consulting firms, including Touche Ross. In 1886 he joined David M. Griffith & Associates, a company that specialized in state and local cost allocation. DMG was acquired by Maximus, Inc., in 1998. He spent the remainder of his career with Maximus, assisting scores of local and state agencies in reviewing technology cost allocation methodologies.

Robert was a lifelong University of Kansas sports supporter and, after moving to Chesterfield, Missouri, in 1984, he became an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Family and friends are invited to attend funeral services on Monday, April 7, 2025 at Newcomer Funeral Home of West County, 2211 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield, Missouri. A visitation will begin at 2:00 pm, with funeral ceremony following at 3:00 pm. Robert will be laid to rest the following day in Highland Park Cemetery, 4101 State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas, at 2:00 pm.

Over the years, Robert contributed to a number of charitable causes, including the Maureen McMurray Cowden Memorial Scholarship through the University of Kansas, and Eric's Camp Fund. In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to those two organizations. (If contributing to the memorial scholarship fund, under the "choose area" designation section please select "other", and write in the name of the memorial scholarship in the "other purpose" field.)

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