Ronald W. Owens

Ronald Winton Owens, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away at his home in Troy on Monday, January 9, 2017 at the age of 84.  He was gathering pecans, as he often did, when he was called home by the Lord.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, January 12th at Northside Church of Christ with Minister Darrell Knight officiating.  Burial will follow at 2:00 PM at Forest Grove Cemetery near Rockdale.  Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 PM Wednesday at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home.  Ron was born on May 7, 1932 on a farm in Lee County to Gomer and Gladys Owens where he lived with his three brothers, Benny, Kenneth, and Preston (Pepper) and his three sisters, Maxine, Mary Beth, and Becky.  Ron worked on the family farm until he graduated from Lexington High School in 1949.  He then served his country in the U.S. Army as a demolition engineer during the Cold War while stationed in Eastern Europe. Upon honorable discharge from the Army, he went to make his fortune in the oil fields in West Texas where he met his future bride of 58 years, Alice Mowbray. Ron then went to work as a Texas Game Warden, working his way up to Commander before retiring after 32 years with the Parks and Wildlife department. Ron built lifelong friendships with numerous wardens, hunters, and landowners throughout Texas and has friends in every corner of the state.  He had many colorful stories from his days chasing poachers throughout East and Central Texas.  The Parks and Wildlife department and Texas Game Wardens always held a special place in his heart.  But Ron's lasting legacy comes from his life as a Christian husband, father, and grandfather. Ron married Alice Mowbray on September 6, 1958 in Flagstaff, AZ. Ron and Alice raised three children, Valerie, Jody, and Doug, in a Christian home and provided a great example of love and dedication for them.  They moved across the state as he progressed within the department finally settling in Troy in 1977.  Ron and Alice spent numerous hours at various games and events for their children and grandchildren.  Ron was especially proud of his grandchildren. He had three beautiful granddaughters, Audrey, Erin, and Jenna and three wonderful grandsons, Travis, Tyler, and Zander. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.  Survivors include his wife, Alice M. Owens of Troy; one daughter, Valerie Malone and husband, Mickey of Paige and their children, Tyler and Erin; two sons, Jody Owens and wife, Dana of Temple and their children, Travis and Audrey and her husband, Justin; and Doug Owens and wife, Shannon of Cedar Park and their children, Jenna and Zander.  Also surviving are two sisters, Mary Beth Burgess of Lexington and Rebecca Wright of Cedar Creek and one brother, Kenneth Owens and wife, LoReta of Bandera.Memorial donations may be made to The Love of Christ, 2000 Airport Road, Temple, TX 76504.