Ira Edwin Owen, Sr

Funeral services for Ira Edwin Owen, Sr. will be held on Tuesday, November 27th at 11 A. M. at Episcopal Church of the Mediator, 3825-35th Ave., Meridian, MS,  39305, with The Reverend Morris Thompson and The Reverend Henry Hudson, officiating. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is assisting.

Mr. Owen, age 93, of Meridian, MS passed away Thanksgiving Day, 11/22, at Anderson Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Owen was born 10/31/1925 in Meridian, MS, where he lived his entire life, with the exception of college attendance and military training.  He attended Meridian Public Schools, including Merdian Jr. College.  Mr. Owen was inducted into training with the United States Army in 1944.  During military training he attended Amherst College and Cornell University.  While an infantryman in the 100th Division at Fort Bragg, NC, he was awarded the Expert Infantryman’s Badge.  He was among the first soldiers to receive this award, newly authorized by the War Department.  He further trained and served in the US Army Rangers.  He was offered an appointment for cadet training at the US Military Academy, West Point.  His military experience imprinted him for life as was evident in his erect posture and his focused, upright presence-a member of the Great Generation, a son of Wales with a fierce Celtic warrior and protective spirit.

Following military service, he returned to Meridian and married the true love of his life, Velleda McArthur, having been sweethearts since age 15. He then completed his formal education, earning a BA degree in Accounting, at Mississippi State College (MSU), in 1949 .

Mr. Owen had a distinguished career with the Mississippi State Tax Commission, beginning as a field accountant and retiring as regional manager of the Meridian office.

He was raised in the Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church and later attended the Episcopal Church of the Mediator, where he served on the Vestry as Treasurer.

Outside interests included being a singularly devoted supporter of the Mississippi State University Bulldog football team. He conducted extensive genealogy research into the Owen family history, in cooperation with the Mississippi Owen Family association.  In later life, he was a first night supporter of the Meridian Little Theatre.  He had a green thumb and found contentment in nurturing plants and in landscaping and tending his yard.  He loved the natural world whether it be the birds and creatures in his backyard, on his land or during annual pilgrimages with Velleda to the Smoky Mountain area in autumn and the Rocky Mountain area in the Spring.  He had a special love for storytelling, especially around the kitchen table with family and a strong cup of coffee and particularly delighting in stories about generations of family and of his childhood adventures in the thriving train yards of early Meridian.   He loved his friends and sharing occasional well-timed, wry and mischievous jokes, in the Anderson’s Hospital Cafeteria Lunch Group, which he helped found. He was a familiar sight to many patrons at the Anderson’s Fitness Center over many years and was still hoping to return until his death.

Mr. Owen is survived by his sister, Dorothy Nell Kasper; his children, Penelope Kimbrell Dudley, Ed Owen (Donna Huff), Sharon Turcotte (Bert); grandchildren, Allen Kimbrell (Chantel Boatner), Aubert Kimbrell (Meredith Long), Owen and Matthew Turcotte, Libby Huff King and Barry Huff (Ed and Donna); great-granchildren, Addison, Avery and Rivers Kimbrell (Allen), Annabel and Barrett Kimbrell (Aubert) and great-grandchild, Millie Marshall King (Libby and Andy) and nephew and niece, Richard and Cheryl Kasper.

Mr. Owen was preceded in death by his wife, Velleda McArthur Owen, his parents, S. K. Owen, Sr. and Velma Freeman Owen and his brother, S. K. Owen, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Juvenile Diabetes Association or Episcopal Church of the Mediator Memorial Garden fund.  These are the charities dear to Mr. Owen.

Visitation will begin in the sanctuary at 9:45 A. M. and close at 10:45.  Seating for the 11 AM service will begin at 10:45.  Please join Mr. Owen’s family and the Mediator parish family for a reception in the Parish Hall following the service.