Marion Ellen Owens

Marion Ellen Owens passed away Tuesday, May 21st in Kennewick, WA. She was 93. The daughter of Elliot and Erma Newton of Dunmore, PA, Marion was born December 19, 1919. She grew up in Dunmore and graduated from nearby Marywood College in 1941. She married Henry M. Owens of South Canaan, PA on June 6th, 1941 in Virginia Beach, VA, and the couple settled in nearby Fort Story, where Henry was recalled to active duty as World War II loomed. During the war, Marion and the couples two daughters stayed with her parents while Henry served in Europe. Henry remained in the Army after the war, and Marion and the children accompanied him to a variety of duty locations around the US and Germany. She was a homemaker rearing four children, but she also made time for volunteer service in the many places where the couple lived. After Henry completed a career in the Army and federal civilian service, the couple retired to Bend in 1979. During their time in Bend, they were active members of the First Baptist Church (now renamed Foundry Church), and also Eastmont Baptist Church. After Henrys death in 2000, Marion remained in Bend until 2006 when she moved to Kennewick to be with her daughter Linda. Marions many volunteer activities includedhelping hospital visitors through the Hospital Auxiliary in Hermiston, Ttreasurer for Birthright in Bend, Sunday school teacher, organist and pianist at various churches, elementary school volunteer, and soup kitchen volunteer in Bend. Marion was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Priscilla Bortree, and by her husband Henry. She is survived by daughters Elizabeth White and husband Clyde from LaGrande, Linda Cowdrey of Kennewick, and Kathy Hays and husband Rocky from Eugene, by her son MajGen Christopher and wife Rita stationed overseas, and her honorary daughter Truc Noung Brown and husband David from Great Falls, VA. Marion has six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will take place in Foundry Church Wednesday May 29th at 9:30 AM, with burial to follow in Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Marion requested donations to the Foundry Church for support of their missionaries. Funeral Home: Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home New 105 NW Irving Ave Bend, OR US 97701

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Marion Ellen Owens

December 19, 1919 - May 21, 2013