Barry Owens
Barry Mitchell Owens, 79, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
He was born on Sept. 30, 1943, to Edna Mary amd George (Buck) Owens in Chattanooga, Tn.
He was raised in Sebring, Florida where he graduated high school, class of ‘61, and served three years in the United States Navy as radarman 3rd class. After his discharge, he worked at Combustion Engineering in Chattanooga for 30 years as a boilermaker. Before retiring from Combustion, he studied Multidisciplinary School Learning and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Tennessee of Chattanooga. He then taught sixth-grade math for 10 years. After retirement from teaching, to stay busy, he worked multiple jobs and volunteered. This included long-haul truck driver, camera/TV operator for local telethons, radio personality for UTC, volunteer driver for MyRide, volunteer at local food bank, and many more.
Barry was a member of the Cleveland & Chattanooga Barbershop Choruses as well as several quartets. He thought of all the members and their families as his second family and loved them dearly.
Barry married Nancy Arthurs, September 5, 1987 and was happily married for 30 years, until her passing in 2017. He is survived by their three daughters Billie Sue Owens, Becca McColpin (Scott), and Mary Ailas Vass (Greg) and three grandchildren, Ariel Rawlings McBride, Sera Ailas Owens, and Lucas Mitchell Owens, sisters Sharon Windsor and Elaine McElhinney and niece Angela Wisenbaker (John) along with many more relatives.
You are welcome to attend a Celebration of Life on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 12-4 p.m. at Don Eves Heritage House, Arts & Civic Center, 1428 Jenkins Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barry’s name to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are by Cremation Center of Chattanooga, 1345 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.