Lou Wallace Cowan Putt Bell Stebbins

Lou Wallace Cowan Putt Bell Stebbins died September 16, 2026. She was preceded in death by her husbands John Horsley Putt, Jr. and the Rev. William (Bill) Gowrie Bell. Surviving are her husband, Dr. Lloyd H. Stebbins, her sons John Horsley Putt III and his wife Twyla Cunningham and Caperton Davenport Putt and his wife Drew Atkinson; daughters Mandy Jane Black and her husband Mark, Jill Allison Gresh and her husband Rob and Traci Stebbins Ivey and Her husband Nick. Also, surviving are grandchildren Caperton, Harry and Wallace Putt; Angie Toma; JR Cunningham: Bill and Jim Bell; Karen Carpenter; Paris, Ethan and Joshua Black and Sawyer Ivey. Her brother Sam Cowan III preceded her in death.

Born in Nashville TN, the daughter of Sam Caperton Cowan, Jr. and Elizabeth Lee Wallace Cowan. She was a direct descendant of William Brewster who served as Pastor on the Mayflower and to the Plymouth Colony; and of Col. Richard Lee, the first of the Virginia Lees, who arrived at Jamestown in 1639.

Lou was graduated from the Harpeth Hall Country Day School in Nashville, TN, in 1955 and in 1959 from Randolph Macon Women’s College, Lynchburg, VA where she was President of Kappa Alpha Theta and May Queen. She was a member of the Junior League of Lynchburg of which she was President. She served on Boards of Directors of several non-profit agencies in Lynchburg. In 1980 she became the Executive Director of the March of Dimes of Central VA. As well as coordinating the responsibilities of the area, she conducted national seminars for the March of Dimes and the Association of Junior Leagues of America.

After moving to Florida in the late 1980s, she served in Marketing and Geriatric Counseling at area rehabilitation centers. She was on the organizing board of the Florence Villa Development Corporation, a member of the Junior League of greater Winter Haven and served as President of the Haven Community Center Board of Directors.

As a member of Hope Presbyterian Church in Winter Haven, she served as Moderator of the Board of Deacons and as an Elder moderating the Pastoral Care Committee. For 25 years she assisted Dr. Thomas (Tom) McGrath in Pastoral Care ministry. With her husband Rev. Bill Bell she organized Stephen Ministry at Hope.

Her sons, of whom she was exceptionally proud, were the light of her life. She delighted in her grandchildren and thought them amazing. Her puppy “Val”, her cat “Tree” and the exotic animals in the pasture adjoining her backyard (which at one time included Zebra, Lamas and Black Footed African Antelope) enriched her life beyond imagining. Like her grandfather Cowan before her, Lou loved gardening and nurturing flowers, almost before she could walk. She was enchanted with her Butterfly Garden and especially enjoyed the Monarchs and Swallowtails when they appeared.

In the 1970s, she “fell in Love” with Jesus Christ and sought to serve Him for the rest of her life. As she grew in her knowledge of Him, she found the joy of obedience and came to understand God as a personal Father with all of the attributes of fatherhood. To her the Holy Spirit was not only a counselor and guide, but also a constant Presence in her daily life who added abundantly to her joy.

When Lou was in her late 70s, God brought Dr. Lloyd Stebbins into her life. He would become the love of her life. At the age of 80 she became his bride. Their life together was enriched in many ways by family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Thrive Church (140 Mallard Road, Lake Alfred, FL) on Saturday October 3, 2026, with Rev. Bobby Maynard officiating. The service will begin at 11:00 am.