John
C. "Jack" Owens, 95, formerly of Kiskiminetas Township, passed away Saturday,
Feb. 6, 2010, in Health South Rehabilitation Center, Monroeville.
Born April 7, 1914, in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, he was a son of the late John C. and Belle (Weaver) Owens. Jack lived in the Apollo area most of his life, where he was a member of the Apollo United Presbyterian Church for 82 years.
At the age of 16, he won a car in the Vandergrift Heights Firemen's raffle, which his brothers sold to pay for his first year tuition at Grove City College. It was during the Great Depression. Upon graduation, Jack could not find a teaching position, so he started in the management training program at the Irvin Works in West Mifflin. He later worked for U.S. Steel in Vandergrift. He served during World War II as a quartermaster to the Marine Fighter Squadron 324th, which was based in Hawaii. After his discharge from the Marines, he started his teaching career Oct. 21, 1946, as an English teacher at Vandergrift High School, teaching there until 1958. In the fall of 1958, Jack accepted a position at the new Gateway High School, Monroeville, and taught there until his retirement in 1974.
Jack was an active member of the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society in Tarentum. He and his wife, Eleanor, helped start the Fleatique, the Society runs each summer. He also presented programs on the early salt industry in the Kiski Valley to a number of area clubs. He was an expert on the Pennsylvania Canal and early frontier life. Jack and Eleanor were also charter members of the Lake Glendale Sailing Club at Prince Gallitzin State Park. Jack was also an accomplished wood worker and built four sailboats during his lifetime. He was the first race committee chairman at the lake. In 1972, Jack served as editor of "First 75 Years: a History of Vandergrift" a compilation of stories about Vandergrift by a dozen local writers. He was also a member of the Gateway Retired Teachers Association.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor (Walker) Owens; brothers, George, Jim and Roland Owens and two infant brothers, Hugh and David; and sisters, Irene, Katherine, Helen, Florence and Martha Owens. Survivors include his niece, Mary Lee (Owens) Walker, of Washington Township; great-niece, Anne (Pat) (Walker) Cloonan, of North Versailles Township; great-nephew, Jim (Linda) Walker, of Worthington; and three great-great-nieces, Vicki, Shannon and Hannah Walker.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the CURRAN-SHAFFER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC., 100 Owens View Ave., Apollo. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in the funeral home with Pastor Lea Austin officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Apollo. Memorial contributions can be made in John's memory to the Apollo United Presbyterian Church, 401 First St., Apollo, PA 15613
.
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH, February 9, 2010