Donald Bruce Owen

Donald Bruce Owen, Esquire, a man of unparalleled pursuits and wit, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep at home in Spokane, Washington. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1942 to Donald G. Owen and Ellen Owen (Diggons), Nicknamed Grandpa Moses, he described his birth as being born in a log cabin furnished with a manger in Brooklyn. Don was a 1959 graduate of Lyndhurst High School and earned his Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America. Don's unwavering commitment to his studies led him to graduate from Lafayette College in 1963, where he studied both American Government and Engineering and received his commission from R.O.T.C. in the U.S. Army. He served his country with distinction as both an Infantry Officer and an Armor Officer in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves.

After active duty, Don taught high school History, American Government, and English Literature & Composition at Easton Area High School in Pennsylvania. While teaching at Easton High School, Don met and later married his first wife, Ellen Hunara, for whom the couple had two sons. He later attended Dickinson Law School in Carlisle, PA, graduating in 1971, and began practicing law at a law firm in Harrisburg, PA. He subsequently became a professor and later Dean of Law at Central Penn Business School and opened his own Real Estate business.

Donald was deeply involved in his communities, serving as president of the Marysville Lions Club and providing pro bono legal services for the Summerdale Fire Company and the East Pennsboro Emergency Medical Services. He was also a school director for the East Pennsboro Area School Board and found time to run a law practice from his home while teaching Real Estate law to realtors. In the early 1980s, he joined the Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) as the Director of Board Development and staff attorney for 23 years. He also taught School Law courses in graduate schools for aspiring superintendents. Donald retired in 2003 but continued his career as a solo teaching lawyer and guest lecturer, teaching semester-long classes in school law around the United States.

In 2012, he moved from Pennsylvania to a retirement community in Tucson, AZ, and began concentrating on composing limericks. He also authored a series of published books. Don relished the winter visits of his son and daughter-in-law. In his twilight years, he moved to Spokane, Washington, with his companion and wife of 21 years, Eileen Green. Don enjoyed spending time with Eileen's family, grandchildren Dawn Steel, (husband Garrett Morgan), Katie Perkins, and great-grandchildren Skyler Diogo, Kayde Diogo, and Jaxon Perkins.

Don is survived by his wife, Eileen Green, of Spokane, Washington; his son, Erik Owen of Summerdale, PA; his son, John Owen, and his wife, Amy, of Duncannon, PA; his grandson, Dexter Owen, and his wife, Denelle, and his great-granddaughter, Regan, of Mechanicsburg, PA; his grandson, Dylan Owen, and his wife, Marie, and his great-granddaughters, Kayla and Kinsley, of Summerdale, PA. He is preceded in death by his parents, Donald G. Owen and Ellen Owen (Diggons) of Lyndhurst, NY, his brother, Kevin Owen of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and his grandson, Dakota Owen, of Enola, PA.