Owen, whose father was also a Presbyterian minister, was ordained in 1947. In Virginia, he became a proponent of civil rights, and his work for desegregation brought threats to both his family and congregation. “We had a cross burned at the doorstep of the church, we had rocks with bomb threats attached thrown through the windows of our home,” Jan G. Owen recalled. “It was scary, but he knew it was the right thing to do.” Civil rights work led Jan W. Owen to become involved in the Peace Corps when that program was in its infancy. He was selected to establish the Peace Corps in Jamaica. “In 1962, to move to Kingston, Jamaica. It was ... very exotic,” Jan G. Owen said. Jan W. Owen would also fill Peace Corps assignments in the Dominican Republic and Colombia. After a daughter was involved in a serious car accident, the family moved back to the United States, where he continued work in the Peace Corps.
Obituary for Jamaica Country Director Jan William Owen
Obituary: Jan William Owen dreamed of big screen but served in ministry
Web Posted: 06/07/2008 11:45 PM CDT
By Amy Dorsett
adorsett@express-news.net
Jan W. Owen envisioned large things for his life — he dreamed of distinguishing himself on the big screen — but his father thought something grander was in store.
“Dad was a drama and Greek major at the University of Texas. He ... wanted to be an actor and director of motion pictures. He wanted his name to be the last to come on the screen before the movie started,” said Owen's son Jan G. Owen. “But he really loved people, and his dad said he should give the ministry serious thought. He really experienced a call as a result of that conversation.”
Jan W. Owen, whose family has a long tradition as Presbyterian ministers, died Thursday, after complications from a fall. He was 87. His other son, Bob Owen, is a longtime San Antonio Express-News staff photographer.
While working on his divinity degree, Jan W. Owen courted a University of Texas student, Dorothy May Richey. They would have five children and a 55-year marriage before she died in 1998.
Owen, whose father was also a Presbyterian minister, was ordained in 1947. In Virginia, he became a proponent of civil rights, and his work for desegregation brought threats to both his family and congregation.
“We had a cross burned at the doorstep of the church, we had rocks with bomb threats attached thrown through the windows of our home,” Jan G. Owen recalled. “It was scary, but he knew it was the right thing to do.”
Civil rights work led Jan W. Owen to become involved in the Peace Corps when that program was in its infancy. He was selected to establish the Peace Corps in Jamaica.
“In 1962, to move to Kingston, Jamaica. It was ... very exotic,” Jan G. Owen said.
Jan W. Owen would also fill Peace Corps assignments in the Dominican Republic and Colombia. After a daughter was involved in a serious car accident, the family moved back to the United States, where he continued work in the Peace Corps.
But memories of a small Episcopalian church in Colombia would beckon to Owen and his wife. In 1971, he returned to that church — this time as an Episcopal minister.
“He felt very strongly called to serve that church and to serve the poor,” Jan G. Owen said.
Eventually, Jan W. Owen came to San Antonio, serving as a minister at St. Thomas, St. Luke's and St. Mark's Episcopal churches, before retiring in 2001.
His legacy continues. Jan G. Owen, the eldest of his children, is a Presbyterian minister in Virginia.
