Funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, at Gadsden First United Methodist Church for Hubert Ryan Owen, 95, who died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. The Revs. Ken Casey and Sam Hayes will officiate. Burial will be at Williams-Southside Memorial park. Collier-Butler Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.
Hubert was born July 1, 1923, in Birmingham to Sadie and Charlie Owen. He was the youngest of six children. He married Audrey Ford of Lineville in January 1947. They moved to Gadsden in 1948 when Hubert became circulation manager of he Birmingham News. Audrey resigned her job as an RN at Carraway Hospital and became a homemaker.
In 1955 Hubert opened Owen Reality, a business lasting 50 years.
Hubert was a social and conservational person. He was always joyous and had numerous friends. If he met you, he considered you a friend. Church and community service was important to Hubert. He has been a 60 year member of his church; was a 40 year member and past president of the Lion's Club. He served as officer and board member of Salvation Army, YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, United Way and Gadsden-Etowah Board of Realtors. He was president of Disque Jr. High and Eura Brown Elementary PTAs. He served as Santa Claus at Salvation Army Christmas parties for many years.
Hubert was inducted into Gadsden-Etowah patriots Hall of Honor. Hubert was an ideal representative of "The Greatest Generation" as depicted in Tom Brokaw's book of that name. He was a combat veteran of WWII serving as a member of the 3rd Infantry Division in the European Theater. Hubert was awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Croix De Guerre, Purple Heart and various campaign ribbons.
Hubert was preceded in death by Audrey in 2005.
He is survived by his children, Wayne (Karen) Owen, Ann (Mark) Heaton, Janice (Brian) Gordon, Phil (Becky) Owen and Kathy (Charles) Trotter; grandchildren, Amy (Earl) Lawson, David (Deblyn) Owen, Ryan Heaton, Rawlins Heaton, Owen Trotter, Tyler Trotter, Anna Katherine (Eric) Hollingsworth, Mary Claire Owen and Matthew (Jamie) Gordon and 11 great grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gadsden First United Methodist Church or Salvation Army of Gadsden.
Special thanks to caregivers, Alice Johns Otto, Peggy Reeves, Kathy Allen, and Norma Freeman, nurses of Encompass Hospice Care, doctors H. B. Thompson and Jason Ayers, staff and friends of Regency Pointe.
The family will receive friends from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Sanctuary of the Church.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.collier-butler.com for the Owen family.
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