Ronald H. Owens

Ronald Herbert Owens, age 86, passed away May 24, 2023. He was predeceased by his wife Judy Owens and leaves behind daughter Renee Owens and Patrick Hord; son Derek Owens and Teresa Hewitt; grandson Ryan Owens; and dog Phoebe. Ron was born in Zanesville, Ohio, to Mary VanGorder and William Owens. His mother later relocated with Ron and his two brothers, Richard and Don, to Elmira. Many years later Ron would be surprised to learn that the Owens Street and Owens Hill Road where he had lived in Zanesville were in fact named after a "lost" great uncle, J. B. Owens, founder of the J. B. Owens Pottery Factory--an interesting coincidence given Ron's skill as an artist, particularly in ceramics. As children Ron and his brothers spent their early years sneaking into barns and jumping into haylofts, sledding, fishing, and spending hot summers picking neighboring crops for, in Ron's words, "a whopping 5 cents a month." After serving in the army Ron earned his college degree on the GI Bill, working as a dance instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studio where he met his soon to be wife Judy Barrows. Not permitted to date clients, Ron and Judy traveled throughout central New York state on dates; this indiscretion was soon discovered, however, ending his career as a dancer. He then worked a number of jobs, including door-to-door encyclopedia salesman. After marrying in Penn Yan, Ron and Judy eventually settled down in Elmira where he began his lifelong career as a high school art teacher. At South Side High School Ron was deeply involved in student activities and organizations--the yearbook, student newspaper, taking photos of sporting events. He was particularly fond of team-teaching the Humanities seminar. He also taught as an adjunct at Elmira College for several semesters, and for years did wedding photography on the side (with Judy making the wedding cakes). He was also an exceptionally active member of First Presbyterian Church in West Elmira, attending from its very first service in West Elmira in 1966. Ron served on numerous church committees and sang in the choir for decades. In later years he got the bug to preach and became a lay minister, traveling throughout central New York state and speaking to tiny congregations in out of the way communities. In his sermons he often quoted his hero, Mark Twain. (For a time Ron served as president of the Mark Twain Society, and until the end of his life remembered with fondness spending a week at Quarry Farm, smoking a cigar on the porch "just like Twain.") Throughout his life Ron was an active artist. He painted watercolors of barns and rural scenes; experimented with a range of pottery methods; and was an avid photographer. As young parents Ron and Judy read constantly to their two children, surrounding them with art supplies, hundreds of crayons, handmade puppets, and various crafts--cultivating an environment that no doubt helped instill in both children a love of art, writing, and teaching. A memorial service for Ron as well as his wife Judy will be held later this year at First Presbyterian Church, Elmira, TBA. His family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to a local Humane Society or child abuse prevention charities.