Thomas "Chip" Goldsborough Owen Jr.

Thomas "Chip" Goldsborough Owen Jr., age 79, of Columbia City, Indiana passed away on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. He was born March 8, 1945 in Fort Myers, Florida to the late Thomas Goldsborough and Doris (née Harlan) Owen. Chip was raised in Kensington, Maryland and, following graduation, would enlist in the United States Navy and proudly served in the U.S. Navy Band stationed in Michigan. While enlisted, he began his career with Fox Products, Inc. of South Whitley, Indiana tuning instruments, which led to his career as a products specialist retiring after 50 years of service in 2018. He would marry his late wife, Nancy Myers, on October 30, 1975. While at Fox Products, Chip collaborated with Arlen Fast, principal contrabassoonist of the New York Philharmonic in the redesign of the contrabassoon, an instrument unchanged for centuries. He performed with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic as their principal Contrabassoonist and third bassoonist from 1980 to 2003. A lifelong member of NAPBIRT, the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians, Chip authored, taught, and lectured on the repair of bassoons and contrabassoons which took him to all fifty states, Europe, New Zealand and Australia; he was also a member of the IDRS, the International Double Reed Society. Ultimately, Chip would leave a lasting legacy on the music world.

Chip is survived by his children, Nicholas G. (Elizabeth) Owen and Morgan (Edwin) Cardenas; grandchildren, Lena Owen, Marley Owen, Dominic Cardenas, Adriano Cardenas, Ian Cardenas, and Eliah Cardenas; brother, Kenneth (Eileen) Owen; and nieces and nephews, Kirk (Ella) Steigler, Bethany (Pat) Guiste, Phil (Emily) Owen, and Andy (Chandra) Owen. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Owen; and sister, Claudia Steigler.

Funeral Service is 4:00 PM Saturday, October 5, 2024 at D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Homes - Pine Valley, 1320 East Dupont Road, Fort Wayne with visitation two hours prior.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, 4901 Fuller Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46835.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Owen family.