Lt. Col. Robert John "Bob" Owens, Usaf (Ret.)

Bob Owens, age 88, passed away October 12, 2024, with his favorite Pekingese Riley and his loving wife Donna by his side. He went peacefully after a several year battle with Alzheimer's.

Bob was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Edward and Virginia Owens. He attended school at St. Aloysius Primary School and McBride High School. While in high school, Bob enjoyed membership in the school paper and played on both the football team and basketball teams. He worked part time at the local camera shop, which explains his hobby of photography. However, the highlight in this time of his life was serving as the bat boy for his favorite baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals.

Upon graduation, Bob was bombarded with six athletic scholarships for his abilities in football, but he chose to accept an academic scholarship from St Louis University.

In preparation for the USAF Bob was quite active in all phases of Air Force ROTC, even organizing the first Sabre Air Command and being recognized as an outstanding cadet for his class.

Bob entered the USAF as a 2nd Lt. and served as a navigator from 1958 - 1980. Bob did two tours in Vietnam as an EC47 Navigator. He also furthered his education with a master's in accounting at Michigan State University while serving.

He was honored with several medals/commendations including Vietnam service medal, Air Force presidential unit citation, and distinguished Flying Cross.

Upon retirement from USAF, he earned his CPA and began working as an accountant, teaching evening classes in accounting at St. Leo University/Langley AFB.

He was passionate about reading, nature, photography, the outdoors, baseball, spending time with family, crossword puzzles, gardening, fishing, and enjoyed a good martini. Bob was extremely charitable, giving to a multitude of charities, many related to animals, children and conservation. Bob could often be found sitting outside with that martini, looking out into nature and listening to his varied taste in music. He enjoyed music from Frank Sinatra to Johnny Cash. His favorite movies were "Field of Dreams" and "Hunt for Red October."

Bob's two favorite sayings-

when you asked him do you want to go to Disneyland/get ice cream/ etc.?

He would respond, "Next summer at 10:00."

If you asked him how he was doing or how his day was going?

"Two feet on the ground and breathing regularly."

He also loved to recite part of the poem by Lewis Carroll "The Walrus and the Carpenter" and taught this to the grandchildren,

"The time has come," the Walrus said,

"To talk of many things:

Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—

Of cabbages—and kings—

And why the sea is boiling hot—

And whether pigs have wings."

Bob was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Bob leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Donna F Owens and their, Pekinese Riley; children, Bob Owens (Marisa) and their children, Gina, Michael, and Robby Owens; Mary Owens; Theresa Euler (Alex) and their child, Branden Mercier; and granddaughters, Addison Mercier, and Patricia Owens; stepchildren, Kristen Girardi (Richard), and their children, Darby (deceased) and Arden, and great-grandchild Brielle; and Karen Casey (Jeff) and their children, Katelyn and Colton. He is also survived by siblings, Sr. Mary Bryan, SSND, Paul Owens (Carol), Tom Owens (Linda), Mike Owens (Pat), Terry Owens (Helen) and Ann Whitney (Lee).

Bob will be laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, date and time to be determined. Inquiries can be directed to Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh.

The family wishes that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, St. Jude's children's hospital, the SPCA, or The Nature Conservatory, all of which were charities near/dear to Bob's heart.

The family wants to especially acknowledge the caregivers who provided such loving care to Bob and support to our family, Providence Assisted Living of Smithfield, NC and Cardinal Hospice.

Arrangements by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com