James F. Owen

James F. "Jim" Owen, age 81 of Riverside, OH, went home to be with our Lord on October 1, 2018 and is now reunited with his wife of 57 years, Anne M. Owen, who passed February 14th 2015.

Jim grew up in Troy, Missouri on his family's farm. He joined the Air Force shortly after graduating from Troy High School. He met and married the love of his life Anne, at his first base near Sault Saint Marie, Michigan in 1958. They were both baptized and eventually made a church home at Overlook Church of Christ, Dayton, OH. They started a family and had 3 children, Julie, Janet, and Karen.

Jim loved being in the Air Force and always said he would do it all over again if he could. He was an airplane mechanic and at one point, traveled the world with a 4 star general. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked several jobs on the base including, security guard, commissary stocker, phone operator #16, mail room, and fueling airplanes. As a phone operator he would let the GI's overseas talk to their loved ones as long as they wanted instead of limiting their time like he was suppose to! He made a lot of friends wherever he went, and was 73 years old when he finally retired.

Jim loved to lay in the sun. His nighttime snacks were root beer floats, maple nut ice cream, and marshmallow shakes, any ice cream really, which he enjoyed while watching the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. Jim also got everyone hooked on green onion dip and he was considered the garbage disposal for pancakes and bacon on Sunday mornings. His full head of hair was admired by everyone until the end and even survived chemo. He loved the Lord and all of his grandchildren. His children and grandchildren are heartbroken but comforted knowing he is with their mom and their grandmother. we will miss him dearly.

Jim is preceded in death by his mother, Viola Meister Owen, father, Porter Owen, brother Tom Owen, sister, Violet Owen Crouch. He leaves behind his brother, Jack Owen; his 3 daughters, Julie (Pete) LaPrairie, Janet (Vincent) Collier, and Karen Owen; eight grandchildren, Crystal and Brian LaPrairie, Jennifer (James) Steward, Dustin and Ryan Collier, Ashley and Cody Dillon, Heather (Doug) Miller; and thirteen great grandchildren, Jace, Alorah, Jayden, Layla, Keegan, Annabelle, Delila, Caliyah, Alaina, Ethan, Trystan, Sayveon, Avianna.

A celebration of life will be held Sat. October 6th from 1-3 pm. at the Comfort Suites Wright Patterson 5220 Huberville Ave. Dayton, OH.

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