Thomas H. Owens Jr's Obituary
Owens, Jr., Thomas H., 88, passed away on Sunday morning, September 5, 2010, at the Hamptons Retirement Home in Tyler, Texas, where he had resided since June 2008. Mr. Owens was born in Dallas, Texas, April 3, 1922, to Nell (Winfield) and Thomas H. Owens, Sr., and lived there most of his long life. Mr. Owens graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1940 and was a member of the Boy Scouts and the Naval R.O.T.C. Mr. Owens married Neva Helton, also of Dallas, in Providence, Rhode Island on June 2, 1945, shortly before Mr. Owens shipped out with the Navy for the last months of WWII. Following the war, Mr. Owens resumed his studies in Civil Engineering at S.M.U. and received his B.S., August 28, 1946. Mr. Owens’ career was interrupted a second time by military service when he was recalled to the Navy 1952-53, during the Korean War. During both tours of duty Mr. Owens served with the Construction Battalion (the Sea-bees) in the Philippines, achieving the rank of Ensign by the end of his WWII tour. He was discharged in December, 1953, following his second tour, with the rank of Lieutenant J.G. Mr. Owens spent most of his career with Texas Bitulithic Construction Company of Dallas. His service there included positions of foreman, superintendent, Manager of the Dallas Branch, and President of Texas Operations, as well as Vice President from 1974 until his retirement from the company in 1979. Mr. Owens was a Professional Engineer and an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Texas Branch of the National Asphalt Pavement Association, and other professional and civic organizations, including the Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce, where he won many awards for service in membership development. Mr. Owens was very proud to serve on the National Panel of Arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association. Following his career at Texas Bitulithic, Mr. Owens worked with his close friend, William Morris, at E.D.I. From 1981 until his retirement, Mr. Owens worked as a professional engineering consultant with Carpenter Carruth and Hover of Dallas. Mr. Owens was a life-long member of Gaston Oaks (formerly Gaston Avenue) Baptist Church, where he served in many capacities, including Chairman of Deacons and Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee. With his wife, Neva, Mr. Owens worked with and was well-loved by the youth of Gaston. He played a major role in both the logistical and the physical aspects of the transition of Gaston Avenue Baptist into Gaston Oaks Baptist. The Owens had two children, Pamela Jean, born 1948, and John Thomas, born 1954. Mr. and Mrs. Owens were active members of the P.T.A. and the Band Booster Clubs at each school Pamela and John attended. Mr. Owens was active in the Dads Club at Dan D. Rogers Elementary School and, with Mrs. Owens, was President of the Hillcrest High School Band Boosters. They often accompanied their children on various out-of-town school trips. Mr. Owens was active in the Mockingbird Hills Neighborhood Association and served on the Neighborhood Citizens Patrol. Mr. Owens had many hobbies, with fishing and boating topping the list. He was a master craftsman and loved working on projects with each of his children and, later, his grandchildren. Mr. Owens was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his daughter Pamela Owens (Richard Ream) of Omaha, Nebraska; son John Owens (Janis) of Troup; three grandchildren Johanna Ruth Aron (Matthew) and Joseph Ream Owens (Yomayra Guzman), all of Chicago, and John R.R. Owens, with great-granddaughter Annabelle Simone Owens, of Durham; sister-in-law, Jean Helton Webb, Dallas; niece Karen Young Anderson (Steve), and great-niece April, Sugarland; nephew Matthew Webb, Dallas; first cousins James W. and Lina Jane Nance, Irving, with their children and grandchildren; and many dear friends and neighbors throughout Dallas. Mr. Owens and his brother-in-law Archie L. Young were married to twins, Neva and Eva Helton. Eva passed away in July, 2004 and Neva in May, 2009. Archie passed away approximately 30 hours after Tom. The entire family rejoices that the two couples are now reunited in heaven. Funeral Services will be held at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, September 9 at the Wildwood Chapel at Restland and will be conducted by long-time friend, the Rev. Bruce Bowles. Visitation will be Wednesday, September 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. Thank you to The Hamptons and Heart to Heart Hospice in Tyler, Texas, for their outstanding and loving care of Mr. Owens in his last two years of life. Memorial gifts may be made to Gaston Oaks Baptist Church, Heart to Heart Hospice, or the Alzeimers Foundation.
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