Diane Chun
September 1, 2018
Diane Priscilla Cowell Chun, age 73 went home to be with our Lord, Saturday, September 1st, 2018.
Born in San Francisco, California to Roger Arthur Cowell and Grace Estelle (Barnes) Cowell. Diane lived briefly in Minnesota then moved to Silver Springs, Maryland at the age of five where she grew up with her younger brother Robert (Bob) Cowell. She graduated from Northwood High School in 1962 and moved to Missouri to attend the University of Missouri where she met and married Paul W. Chun and had a Son, Peter Lowell Chun.
Diane moved to Gainesville, Florida in 1965 where she completed her studies at the University of Florida, and following in her father’s footsteps as a reporter, began a 40 plus year career at the Gainesville Sun. While at the Gainesville Sun, a few of Diane’s job titles included, Features Editor, Travel Editor and Medical Reporter.
Diane loved to read and travel. Diane always had a book in her hand or in her bag. She traveled all over the United States and to many different countries, documenting her travels in writing and photographs.
As soon as her son, Peter married, Diane’s travel adventures became focused around her new destination of choice, Walt Disney World. Peter and his wife Connie would soon provide Diane a new reason for being, her grand children, Taylor and Garrett. Several weeks out of the year the entire family would gather at Disney and that is where Diane felt most at home, teaching the grandkids to look for all of the secret hidden Mickeys and showing them all of the behind the scenes facts about Walt Disney’s magical place.
Diane is survived by her husband, Paul W. Chun, her son Peter L. Chun, (Connie), her grandchildren Taylor and Garrett, all of Jacksonville, Florida and her brother Robert Cowell of Orlando, Florida.
Having Diane in our lives was such and blessing and she will be greatly missed until we meet again.
Diane loved her rescue kitties, we are asking that you please donate to Gainesville Pet Rescue, 5403 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608 or online at http://www.gainesvillepetrescue.org in Diane’s name.
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Diane was such a bright, insightful, funny character and far too young to leave this world. Working with her at The Sun was a pleasure. I can still see that toothy grin and sparkly eyes peering over glasses. And I remember her kindness the day I got a call to go to the hospital, a family member was critical after an accident. She fetched water for me, and I think both she and Jacki drove me to Shands? That day’s still a fog, but I have always recalled Diane’s quiet words. Referencing the sudden loss of her mother many years before, she noted the grand mercy in our inability to see into the future… and thus the value of living each day as it comes.
In the mid-1970s, Diane gave me my first break when I was a student intern at the Gainesville Sun. I became a TV critic under her supportive watch, and, thanks to the encouragement from her and editor Ed Johnson, managed to turn that into an entire career. I never forgot that, and never forgot Diane. She was endlessly sweet and patient, even with me. Thanks, Diane.