William was born August 25, 1945 in Kansas City, MO, a son of Willard Robert and Lela May (Davis) McGowen. He attended Rodman #128 Rural School from 1951-1956 and graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1963. He graduated with a BA from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, MO in 1967.
He was a lifelong resident of Harrisonville. William was a U. S. Air Force veteran. He had worked for the IRS until retiring on December 31, 2011.
William was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, sister-in-law, Mary McGowen, and two brothers-in-law, James Coons and George Thompson. He is survived by two brothers, Robert McGowen (Rita) and Richard McGowen, both of Harrisonville, MO; two sisters, Mary Thompson, Indianola, IA; Margaret A. Coons, Chariton, IA, and several nieces and nephews.
