Palestine High School Alumni Association

02 / 17 / 1921  –  07 / 24 / 2001

Interment for Eugene C. Owen, 80, of Houston, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Tennessee Colony.  A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 4 at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston.  Arrangements are under the direction of J.B. Earthman Tanglewood Funeral Directors of Houston.

Mr. Owen died Tuesday after a lengthy battle with cancer.  He was born February 17, 1921, in Athens to Hoy and Freddie Owen.  Mr. Owen graduated  Palestine High School in 1938.  He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1942 with a business degree in accounting.  He lived the last 56 years of his life in Houston.

He served with distinction during World War II as a Lieutenant in the United States Army 7th Armored Division.  He participated in the invasion and liberation of France, the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of Germany, and many other engagements.  He also served as captain in the Army during the Korean War.

Mr. Owen, his father and brother, Jack Owen, founded O&M Manufacturing Company, where he worked for 35 years.  He retired as its president in 1983.  He was a member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church for years, where he was a lifetime member of the Administration Board.  He was active in the church and held numerous leadership positions within the congregation.

He was a longtime member of the Houston Rotary Club.  He also was a member of the Texas A&M Target 2000 Commission and a Permanently Endowed Diamond Century Club Member of the Association of Former Students.  He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.

Mr. Owen is survived by a wife of 59 years, Naomi; brother, Jack; sister, Celia; daughter, Cindy; sons, Steve, David and Mark; and nine grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Chapelwood Foundation, Houston, Texas.

Source:  Palestine Herald Press