Richard Ernest Owen, Sr., 94, of Hopewell Township, who liked to be called “Dick,” passed away peacefully at his home on August 10, 2022, surrounded by his family and his beloved dog, Mumba. He was the husband of the late Irene Patricia (Hlubik) Owen, to whom he was married for 55 years and with whom he raised six children. Born in Rye, NY on March 4, 1928, to Russell E. and Mabel A. (Ofeldt) Owen, he spent his childhood in Rye, NY and Cheshire, CT. He was educated in CT before he enlisted in the United States Army in 1946, where he trained to be an electrician. Upon completion of his training, he was assigned to the 246th Quartermaster Depot Company in the Philippines and served as an electrician. A true patriot, he earned the rank of Private First Class before he was honorably discharged in 1947.
Relocating to eastern Pennsylvania upon his discharge, Dick studied radio servicing at Temple University Technical Institute in 1948, before settling with his wife in NJ and owning and operating Trenton Television Parts & Service Company. A firm believer in the American Dream, Dick started with little and became quite successful. Truly a self-made man and an entrepreneur at heart who believed in perseverance, ingenuity, and self-reliance, he prided himself on being a self-taught lifelong learner, a necessity as he continuously adapted his business to the changing times. He also created the real estate leasing business, REO Leasing & Investment Company, that he continued to own and oversee for the remainder of his lifetime. He cherished family gatherings, inventing devices to solve his everyday problems, sharing his knowledge and talents with others, and being outdoors pursuing his many hobbies. He was an avid boater, downhill skier, hiker, sailor, snowboarder, swimmer, and water-skier. Enjoying life to its fullest, he celebrated his ninetieth birthday downhill skiing with four generations of his family. Animals, especially dogs, were drawn to him, and he was drawn to them. Dogs frequently enjoyed his outdoor activities with him.
A loving, generous, and devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he is survived by his six children, Jeanette Epstein; Diane Owen Garber and her husband, John; Richard Owen, Jr. and his wife, Maureen; Barbara Owen Gibbings and her husband, J. Ian; Carrie Owen O’Boyle and her husband, Robert; and James Owen and his wife, Janet; thirteen grandchildren, Lindsey and Jessica Epstein; Jonathan, Jeffrey, and Jessica Garber, and Carrie Garber Siegrist; Richard III and Sean Owen; James Gibbings; Maura Owen O’Boyle; and Bradley and Connor Owen, and Alaina Barker; eight great-grandchildren; his beloved dog, Mumba; and numerous nephews, nieces, and friends. In addition to his wife, Irene, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Robert, Janet, and Russell, Jr. Owen, and his son-in-law, Matthew Epstein.
Viewings will be Thursday, August 25, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, and Friday, August 26, 9:15 am – 10:15 am, at Wilson-Apple Funeral Home, 2560 Pennington Road, Pennington, NJ. A funeral service will be held on Friday at 11:00 am at Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 80 West Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ, with interment with military honors in Ewing Cemetery, 78 Scotch Road, Ewing, NJ immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tunnel-to-Towers Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Hopewell Presbyterian Church, or any charity of your choosing.
