Retired U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nolan C. Sowell, 87, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Saturday, August 17, 2019 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.
He was born October 18, 1931 to Millard F. Sowell and Gussie Exum Sowell in Wausau, Fla.
He started his United States Coast Guard career in 1948 by enlisting as an apprentice seaman and received basic training in Mayport, Fla. Nolan rose to the rank of lieutenant commander, an accomplishment of which he was extremely proud.
He married Elizabeth Foster in 1959 and they settled in Edison, N.J. In 1971, following military retirement at the end of 23 years of active duty in the Coast Guard, Nolan began a second career as regional engineer for Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. He had four children with Elizabeth: Tom, Steve, Lisa, and Kathy. In 1983, he lost Elizabeth to cancer.
In 1989, Nolan met and married Nellie Dublin Babb in Greenwood, S.C. Following his 20 years of employment at Rutgers and two brief periods of residence in Greenwood, S.C. and Destin, Fla., he and Nellie settled on Amelia Island, Fla.
In addition to his parents and Elizabeth, Nolan was predeceased by his children, Tom and Lisa.
He leaves behind his wife, Nell of Amelia Island; a daughter, Kathy (Albert) Erickson of Yulee, Fla.; a son, Steve Sowell of Yulee; two step-daughters, Joe (Bill) Franks of Greenwood and Laura (Ted) Merchant Ninety Six, S.C.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
There are no local services scheduled at this time. The family is planning services at Harley Funeral Home in Greenwood at a later date.
The family asks that Nolan be remembered by memorials to Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors