John Francis Owens' Obituary
John Francis Owens was called from the activities of this life on August 2, 2009 in Good Shepherd Hospital, Longview, Texas after a sudden illness. He began this life on February 18th, 1920 in Norton, Virginia. He graduated from Lebanon HS in Lebanon, VA in 1938. After graduation, he attended Johnson City Business College and worked at North American Rayon Corporation in Tennessee. He served in the Air Force from 1942 - 1945 stationed in the South Pacific during World War II as an Administrative Inspector and Master Sargeant. He attended the University of Texas at Austin graduating in 1955 with a B.S. in Architectural Engineering. In 1975 he began a long career with Armco Steel in Houston until his retirement in 1988 in Longview. During his time in Houston and Longview he belonged to many organizations including the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.
He is survived by his wife, Clara Seale Owens, of Longview; Son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Lori Owens of Austin; Grandsons, Joshua and Aaron Owens; step-daughter, Carolyn Moffitt Salery and husband, James of Kingsport, TN; sister and brother-in-law, Sibyl and George Beals of Kingsport, TN; sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Robert Epley of Marion, NC; sister-in-law, Ruby Owens of Flower Mound, TX; and countless nieces and nephews across the country.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Audrey Winters Owens; parents, Edward and Alice Owens; brothers, Stuart, Henry, Cecil, James, Paul and Stanley Owens; sisters, Hazel and Russell Owens, Beulah Patterson and Gladys Mangum.
Those who knew John knew that he never did anything half-way. He was passionate about many things including his family, his work, his friends, his cooking, the great state of Texas, a fine cigar, the Longhorns, a good drink and living life to the fullest! One of his lifelong passions was the opera. In recent years he served on the board of Opera East Texas and was one of its past presidents. He spent much of his retirement working for the opera, working as a voting official in elections, taking care of his yard and loving and caring for his family.
A "Celebration of Life" service will be held on Thursday, August 6th, 2009, from 4 until 6 PM at Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Rd., Longview, TX. A graveside service will take place in Kingsport, TN at East Lawn Memorial Park, 4997 Memorial Blvd., on Saturday, August 8th at 3:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to:
Opera East Texas P. O. Box 1175, Longview, TX 75606
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