George Owens

George Erwin Owens, Sr., of Lake Lotawana, MO, died on April 5, 2010. Services will be at the Silent Unity Chapel at Unity Village located at 350 highway and Colbern Rd., on Saturday, April 10 at 11:00 am. A reception will follow the service at the Fellowship Hall. George was born on October 12, 1925 in Kansas City, KS, he was the only child of Ethel Pauline Bartberger and George Banker Owens, both teachers in Johnson and Wyandotte county. His father started Piper and Turner High Schools.

George‘s achievements began early, at 8 years old he sold and delivered Liberty and Saturday Evening Post magazines. He was a trumpet player in the Popeye and American Legion Boy’s band, which while he was a member, won 5 state and 2 national competitions. He was an Eagle scout in Troop 7, sponsored by St. Paul‘s Episcopal Church, where he was awarded the Edison Wycliff cup for being scout of the year. He lettered in swimming for two years in high school and was on the honor roll.

In between his graduation from Wyandotte high school in 1943 and his joining the Navy, he learned to fly. He joined the Navy Air Corps and was in the V 5 program. The Navy sent him to Rice University in Houston, TX for Officers training, which he completed in 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant Senior Grade. While stationed in Houston, he met his future wife Lorraine Hopkins. He graduated from Kansas University with a degree in economics in 1947. He and Lorraine were married in Pasadena, TX at St. John‘s Episcopal church Feb 5, 1947.

George began his business career in 1946 after his discharge from the Navy. He worked from his office at 1524 Crystal, Kansas City, MO for over 60 years. He loved business and started several companies. Owens, Metal Co. which manufactured windows and doors for mobile homes which at one time had 5 plants around the country. Owens Plastics which made plastic pipe, fittings and plastic containers. He was involved in land developments, mainly in Florida, a mobile home park in Fort Myers, Sanibel Arms condos on Sanibel Island and the Phoenix, a high rise on Golden Point and Ravenwood Estates, a subdivision, in Sarasota, FL. His last venture was Arrow Forklift Parts. He was in business with Leo Hallack.

He was a member and president of the Young President‘s organization and the KCPO‘ers. He served on the board of directors for UMB Bank, the Salvation Army, What-So-Ever House, Blue Valley YMCA, Unity School of Christianity and the World Business Council. He was Scout Master for Troop 66, at the 2^nd Presbyterian Church for 2 years, past President and Lieutenant Governor of the Blue Valley Kiwanis with a record of more than 60 years perfect attendance. George was a pilot and logged over 4000 flying hours in his corporate plane.

He was a jogger and a swimmer and an avid ping pong, tennis and aerial darts player. His hobbies were playing gin rummy, bridge, backgammon and ballroom dancing. He belonged to the Carriage Club, the Kansas City Athletic Club, the Kansas City Club, the Marriott Health Club and Legacy Park in Lee‘s Summit. He was active in his church, seldom missing services. He was on the vestry and president of the men‘s club at Trinity Episcopal Church in Independence and All Saints Episcopal Church at 9200 Wornall Rd. He was a member of Unity Village Chapel. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lorraine; his 4 children: Janet of Buckley, WA, George Jr. (Barbara) of Raytown, David (Helen) of Westwood and Lynn of Lake Lotawana; 6 grandchildren: Monica, Janeen, David Charles, Matthew, Michael and James; 1 great-granddaughter: Chrysanthemum. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Blue Valley Kiwanis club, c/o Jon Henderson, UMB Bank, 6400 Independence Ave., Kansas City, MO, 64125 or the George Owens Nature Park at 1601 S. Speck Rd., Independence, MO, 64051 or Unity Village Chapel at 1901 N.W. Blue Parkway, Unity Village, MO, 64065. The family thanks our friends for their prayers and support.

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