Jack Harlon Owen

Jack Harlon Owen, born November 5, 1925 entered the church triumphant and the arms of His Savior from the comfort of his home and the loving presence of his wife and son on December 4, 2020. Jack was the youngest child of 11 children born to Melvin Brown Owen and his wife, Mary Jane Lewellyn of Buckhorn, Mississippi. Predeceasing him were his parents who moved to Owen Lake at Lynne, Florida, his brothers Davis Hawkins Owen, Alvis Zenn Owen (whose twin died at birth), Ollis Glen Owen, Sr., Toy Coleman Owen, Sr., Blanton Dye Owen, followed by an unnamed infant son who died at birth, William Keith Owen (whose twin also died at birth), and two sisters Loyce and Clyde.

In addition, he is survived by a great host of nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces from Titusville, Sanford, McIntosh, Lake City, Olustee, Florida, NC, Texas and Alaska, all of whom absolutely adored him.

He is survived by his wife of almost 75 years, Ethelyne McDonald Owen of Sanford and his son, Robert Clyde Owen, Orlando, Florida. Jack grew up in the Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church, graduated from East Marion High School where he played basketball and exited school three months early to join the United States Air Force during World War II where he served tours of duty in Okinawa and France. Two years after graduation he married his childhood sweetheart, Ethelyne McDonald, whom he had met in primer grade at East Marion and proposed to at age 5. After his military duty they moved to Seminole County where Jack entered vocational school in Orlando to learn the automotive business. He and his brother Blanton formed JB Auto Parts located in Longwood, and later opened a Volkswagen salvage and repair shop on 17/92, where he enjoyed work with his nephew, Glen Owen for many years until his retirement. He and Ethelyne have enjoyed worship as members of Central Baptist where he served as Deacon, Volunteer Extraordinaire and Sunday School teacher of the Special Ed Ministry which he and Ethelyne founded over 43 years ago.

An avid and adept sportsman and gun collector, his hobbies included deer hunting with family in the Ocala National and Osceola Forests, fishing the lakes and Ocklawaha River, crabbing the runs and channels of Salt Springs, M-Port Marina, Silver Glen, Juniper and Sweet Water Springs. As a 14 yr old barefoot boy in the Big Scrub, he was issued his Social Security card by MGM for the filming of “The Yearling”, which won academy awards for both Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman. The story was based on the Pulitzer winning book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, for which Jack caught 5 young fawns. He was an accomplished woodworker, building 2 early homes primarily from salvaged materials. He gifted many handmade wooden treasures to family and friends, did his own automotive repairs, and provided much maintenance for Central Baptist, as well. With his green thumb he grew and shared a large spring vegetable garden, propagated many azaleas, and maintained their home, shop and ten acres at Payola. He was a faithful friend and caregiver to those in need and his memory is marked by great generosity both to God’s Kingdom work, witnessing to the lost, helping others in great tribulation, loving little children, and sharing his tremendous storytelling ability. He had a great sense of humor, despite hard times and loss. His high calling was living for Christ, sharing the joy of the Gospel, and loving his family.