Dr. William Otway Owen

Dr. William Otway Owen passed on Thursday, February 5, 2015, at the age of 83. He was fortunate enough to pass peacefully in his own bed, surrounded by family, at his home. He was known as Bill, Dad, Uncle Bill, Papaw, or Dr. Owen. Each of those roles played to his strengths as a caregiver, friend, patriarch or partner. His approach with the people in his personal and professional life was fueled by his generosity, lack of ego, selflessness and true desire to help. Bill was born on November 27, 1931, in Evanston, IL. He was the son of William Otway Owen and Minnie Christine Hillix, and the younger brother of Jane. Bill always looked forward to his summer visits to Camp Bil-O-Wood in Canada. Those visits would have a greater impact on his life than he would ever imagine. It was there that he met Ann Rutter, the younger sister of his buddy Marshall. Ann was cute, engaging, and bright. Bill would eventually ask for her hand in marriage while he was doing his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital. They celebrated their 57 year wedding anniversary in August of 2014. Bill always excelled at academics. He attended Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, for both undergraduate and medical school and started practicing medicine in 1956. Ready to start their new life together, they moved to Green Cove, FL where he was a Naval Physician at the Florida Naval Base for two years. After his service, and with their newborn daughter Carol, they moved back to Chicago where Bill honed his skills as a Cardiologist. It was in Chicago that they welcomed their son, Bob, to the family. In 1962, Bill and Ann found an opportunity to move to Fresno where Bill joined an internal medicine practice. The early years in Fresno were marked by the addition of Cynthia and Chris to the family. Bill practiced medicine for 58 years, where he treated, counseled, and nurtured thousands of patients. His patients were steadfast in their loyalty, as his skill as a physician was only matched by his compassion and dedication. In 2005 Bill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. However, Bill not only persevered through this illness, but thrived. He was never a person dying of cancer but someone living with it. He continued to practice until 2014. Bill was a voracious reader, and he had a special interest in rare books. The only thing he loved to do more than reading was to spend time with his family, as well as Ann's brother and twin sister and their spouses and children. They were truly his best friends, and he counted their children as his own. He always wished he could spend more time with his sister Jane and her children, but their lives in France made it difficult for them to see one another regularly. Bill is survived by his wife, Ann; his sister, Jane Molard, of Cannes, France; children, Carol Owen of Fresno, Bob Owen of Huntington Beach, CA, Cynthia Rinker of Virginia and Chris Owen of Oregon; sister-in-law, Carol Christensen of Bellevue, WA; brother-in-law, Marshall Rutter of Pasadena, CA; eight nieces and nephews; and 10 grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Columba Church on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. Reception immediately following the service will be at the Fig Garden Swim and Racquet Club, at 4722 N. Maroa, in Fresno. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Poverello House, or to the donor's favorite charity. Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns and Blair Funeral Home, 1525 East Saginaw Way, Fresno, California (559-227-4048)