Wiley C. Owen

Mr. Owen was born November 17, 1929, in Buford, GA, son of William Clyde Owen and Clara Lou Stargel Owen. Moving to Atlanta in 1935, he attended Atlanta public schools and graduated from the University of Georgia with two degrees. While there he was active with many organizations but was known for his many comedy solos with the University’s Men’s Glee Club. He was also a soloist with the University Chorus, the Madrigal Choir, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church and entertained at many civic clubs and University functions in Athens. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity, Kappa Tau Alpha Honorary Journalism Fraternity, etc. He was elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and served as music librarian for the University Music Department for four and a half years until 1958.

Moving to Rome in 1958, he was librarian for four years at West Rome high School and was active with the school’s Chieftain Acts as well as writing the school’s Alma Mater. He was also advisor to the School newspaper and annual as well as Quill and Scroll Society.

After a master’s degree in librarianship at Emory University he returned to Rome as director of the Rome Carnegie Library and later as associate director of the Sara Hightower Regional Library. He was actively involved with many aspects of the Rome Community, particularly in the fine arts. He was former member of the Chamber of Commerce Fine Arts Committee, former president and board member of the Rome Little Theatre, former president and longtime treasurer of the Rome Community Concert Association and former president and board member of the Music Lovers’ Club of Rome.

Most recently he has been a board member of the Rome Symphony, Shorter College Friends of Music, Rome Area Heritage Society, Three Rivers Singers and Friends of the Library. He was a founding member of the Rome Community Chorus, the Rome Symphony Chorus and the Three Rivers Singers. He was also a founding member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. He was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Choir since 1958 and served on the Church Vestry.

As part of the Rome Sesquicentennial Committee, he assisted in the publication of the pictorial history of Rome and Floyd County. He also edited the “Index to Battey’s History of Rome and Floyd County,” a bicentennial project of the Rome Area Heritage Foundation. Most recently he edited “Kiki’s Kitchen,” a cookbook in memory of Kiki Petropole for the Friends of the Library.

For many years he was a part-time instructor at Shorter College in library science, Children’s literature and part-time music librarian. Following his retirement in 1996, he served as consultant for Berry College’s Music Library until 2012. Most recently he has been an active supporter of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Georgia Historical Society, Georgia Conservancy, National Creative Society, National Wildlife Foundation, Boys’ High School of Atlanta Alumni Society and others.

He is survived by brothers, Larry L. (Liz) Owen, Sarasota, FL, and Cary B. (Norma) Owen, Lawrenceville; nieces and nephews, and a host of cousins and many special friends. He was preceded in death by a young sister, Bonnie Jean, a brother, William J. Owen, and by his parents.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, July 2, 2013, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Rome, with visitation and reception in Daniel Hall following the service.

His wishes were that memorial gifts be made to any of the following: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Music Fund, the University of Georgia Foundation: Men’s Glee Club or the UGA Foundation: W. C. Owen Music Collection.