L. R. Owen, 84, of Tifton passed away Sunday, February 22, 2004, at Tift Regional Medical Center. His funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 25, 2004, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Tifton with Elder Roger Lowery and Elder David Harper officiating. Mr. Owen was entombed at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mr. Owen's grandsons, James C. Owen, Marcus E. Owen, David L. Owen, Jacob L. Owen, George I. Owen and J. Zane Owen, served as pallbearers.
Born April 19, 1919, in Thomas County, Mr. Owen was the son of the late George Calvin Owen and Lilla Layton Owen. He was also preceded in death by three sisters and four brothers. He was a well-known minister of Jehovah's Witnesses, having served as an elder in the Tifton Congregation for more than 50 years. In addition, before retiring, he was a manager in real estate; and he was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Tifton.
Mr. Owen is survived by his wife, Ruth Elizabeth "Betty" Holton Owen of Tifton, to whom he married on August 30, 1941, in Pelham; two sons and daughters-in-law, Melvin and Sandi Owen and Benny and Donna Owen; one sister, Ernestine Owen Barnes; six grandsons; and one granddaughter, Jessica Allison; four great-grandchildren.