Twila Marie Cowan (aka Seibert, Smith) was born March 15, 1942 in DuBois, PA. She passed away on January 3, 2026. She married W.H. Seibert of Lindsey, OH in 1963 and divorced in 1971. She married R. N. Smith of Port Clinton in 1972 and divorced in 2009.

Twila had two children. Debra L. (Seibert) Skarsten, of Pickerington, OH who with her husband (Kevin) are parents to 9 children – Sara, Emily, Jadyn, Haley, Matthew, Tyler, Jacob, Logan and Zachary. Kevin T. Seibert of Oak Harbor has two step-children, Pablo and Josue, with his wife (Veronica).

Twila is the daughter of Elmer L. and Pauline (Hughes) Cowan. As a “bridge brat,” Twila lived 18 places in 18 years. Her dad was a bridge builder in PA (Sharon, New Castle, Homestead, Brookville, Reynoldsville, Falls Creek, Cheswick, Homer City, Cranberry, Mahaffey, Belle Vernon), OH (Boardman, Newton Falls), and FL (Melbourne). The family always moved to the construction area. Her mother was a homemaker who was very dedicated to her community and church, no matter where they lived.

The frequent moving was a difficult experience for Twila as it resulted in not having a hometown or long- term friendships. She graduated from Mars High School in Mars, PA in 1960 and attended Capital University in Columbus, OH, Southside Hospital, Pittsburg, PA, and Riverside Hospital, Toledo, OH. She graduated as a registered nurse in 1964. She completed her BSN in 1978 at University of Toledo, and her MS in Perinatal Nursing in 1990 at Case Western Reserve.

Her employment included Riverside Hospital, Toledo, Fremont Memorial Hospital, Fremont, WSOS (family planning), Head Start, and Planned Parenthood. She was the first nursing director at Otterbein Portage Valley in Pemberville. She taught practical nursing at Fremont Vanguard and was a nursing professor at the University of Toledo from 1983 – 1998. She loved teaching her students.

After moving to Florida she taught nursing at Gulf Coast College in Panama City, FL. Twila raised her children in Oak Harbor beginning in 1972. She spent winters in FL beginning in 2000 and eventually moved there permanently while having a summer home in Lindsey, OH. Her life-long hobby of genealogy included research in Germany, Denmark, Scotland and major US libraries and dozens of courthouses in several states. She taught genealogy classes as well. She was instrumental in developing the first Ottawa County History and Genealogy book in 1984. She published two family genealogies and completed a third book. She also enjoyed travel (Europe, China, Caribbean, and US).

She loved her friends and family and her pets – Skeeziks, Munson, Molly, Mikey, Morey, Brownie and Kitty.

Twila attended Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist churches while growing up. She was once a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Fremont and St. John’s Lutheran in Rocky Ridge. She is preceded in death by an infant brother, Lynn, her sister, Arlene, and brother, Arden. She is survived by children, Debra (Kevin) and Kevin (Veronica), and many grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

Burial will be in Salem Township Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor with private family services. Memorial Contribution may be made to a charity of the Donor's Choice. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserpriesman.com.