James Richard Owen

Jim Owen was born March 23, 1931, in San Antonio, Texas, to a single mother, Carolyn H. James.

Jim graduated from Miami High School in 1950.

Jim joined the United States Marines on July 31, 1950, and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Leona Cheney, on December 26, 1950, in Miami, Florida, upon completion of his Marine training. He shipped out to Korea ten days after the ceremony and returned from Korea in February 1952. He continued to serve in the USMC at Camp Lejeune until he was honorably discharged on July 31, 1954.

Upon his discharge from the military, Jim enrolled in Columbia Bible College and then after a year attended Tennessee Temple University. He graduated in 1959. He then moved back to Texas and attended Dallas Theological Seminary for a year before enrolling in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he graduated with a master’s degree.

Jim’s first ministry was at Sylvania Heights Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, before returning to Dallas, Texas, to become the principal of Dallas Christian Academy for three years. From there, God called him to be a pastor and plant several churches, one of which was Baytown Community Church, where he faithfully served for twelve years.

Above all Jim loved the Lord, his wife Mary, and studying God’s Word.

Jim is survived by his wife of seventy-five years, Mary;their three children, Jim Owen, Jr., Candi Erwin, and Daniel Owen; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held May 26, 2026, at 10:30 am at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas, 77038. Memorial services will be held at 11:30 am at American Heritage Funeral Home, with his son Jim, Jr., officiating. Interment will be in Houston National Cemetery at 12:45 pm. Military Honors will be conducted by the U.S Marines and Houston Honor Guard.