THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 27, 1994 TAG: 9409270278
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Dr. Theodore Willis Owens Jr., 60, of the 4500 block of Westborough Drive, a retired educator, quietly passed away on Sept. 24, 1994, in his home.
Dr. Owens was born in Wilson, N.C., to the late Rev. Theodore Willis Owens Sr. and Jessie Owens. He grew up in Richmond, Va., and was educated in the public schools. After graduating from Armstrong High School, he matriculated to Virginia State College in Petersburg, Va., where he earned both a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree in science. Following graduation from Virginia State College, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving honorably from 1957 to 1959. In 1959, he began his teaching career in the Portsmouth School System. As a career educator, he continued to study and received his Ed.D. degree in educational administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Va. in 1982. He retired after 32 years.
``Teddy,'' as he was affectionately known by many, was an active member of Community Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth. He served as the chairman of the personnel committee, elder and member of the session, and he used the beautiful tenor voice that God gave him to sing in the Charles E. Diggs Memorial Men's Choir. As a community and educational leader, he was in the following: Epsilon Nu Lambda Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., RO-TWO Investors, Colonial Point Civic League, former Jack of the Portsmouth Chapter of Jack and Jill, Inc., pest of Pinochle Bugs, Inc., adjunct professor at Norfolk State University, Portsmouth Education Association, Virginia Education Association, Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals and the National Association for Secondary School Principals.
Survivors include his loving wife, Ruth Willis Owens and two devoted sons, Theodore Willis Owens III ``Tre,'' and Rodregas Willis Owens ``Rod,'' of Chesapeake; four sisters, Janet Jones ``Chippy,'' of Greenbelt, Md., Mary O. Carter of Philadelphia, Vivian Reid of Largo, Md. and Anita Lewis of Paterson, N.J.; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Willis Sr.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Willis Jr.; and sister-in-law, Mrs. Bernice Browning, all of Raleigh, N.C.; brother-in-law, the Rev. Floyd Lewis of Paterson, N.J.; an aunt, Miss Mattie Watkins of Philadelphia; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday in Community Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Compton J. Ramsawh. Burial will be in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Suffolk, with military honors. Viewing will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Corprew Funeral Home, Portsmouth. Friends may join the family at the funeral home at 7 p.m. Wednesday, where the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will conduct Omega services. The body will be taken to the church at 11 a.m. Thursday. ILLUSTRATION: Personal Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY
by CNB