William J.(Silver) Cowell of 410 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon;died Thursday;July 12;1984;at 2:15 p.m.in Mon Valley Hospital;Carroll Twp. He was 65. Born Jan.4;1919;in Elm Grove;W.Va.;he was a son of the late Robert Cowell and Ellen Cowell Ekhardt of Belle Vernon;who survives. in addition to his father;Mr.Cowell was preceded in death in 1980 by two sisters;Leah Niemela and Hila Petrick. Mr.Cowell was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Belle Vernon. He served in the United States Army-Air Force during World War II. Mr.Cowell retired in 1975 as a foreman in the hot mill at the Allenport plant of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel. He was a member in the Masonic Lodge F&AM of California;a charter member of the Roscoe American Legion;and a member of Arden Calvert Post 167 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Charleroi. Mr.Cowell was formerly associated with professional baseball as a member of the St.Louis and Detroit farm systems. From 1935 to 1950;he was active in baseball and soccer in the Mon Valley. Surviving;in addition to his mother;are his widow;Mary Fabian Cowell;a son;James Farrar of Elizabeth;a brother;Thomas A.Cowell of Charleroi;a sister;Mrs.Mary Ellen Whylsell of Roscoe;a stepsister;Mrs.Betty Lilley of Roscoe;and three grandchildren. Friends are being received on Saturday from 7 to p.m.and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.at the Shelby D.Ferguson Funeral Home;700 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon;where funeral services will be held Monday;July 16;at 11 a.m.with Rev.Thomas St.Clair;pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Belle Vernon officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Shelby D.Ferguson;funeral director;is in charge of arrangements.