Richard Owens Jr. was born on May 22, 1929, in Evanston, Ill., to Richard Owens Sr. and Alice Gaines. He passed away on Aug. 4, 2016, at the age of 87 at Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota, Fla., surrounded by a loving family. Richard was preceded in death by his sisters, Alice and Betty. He is survived by his loving wife, Patty Owens (Baldwin), of 24 years. Richard and Patty met in Norwalk, Conn., where they were both employed. Together they moved to Suffolk, ultimately retiring to Florida 13 years ago. Additionally, he is survived by children, Karen Angione and Lyrae Owens, of Virginia, and Marc Owens, of Connecticut; stepchildren, Marc Norwood, of Connecticut, Vicki Parker, of Virginia, Lance Norwood, of Massachusetts; grandchildren Collin Angione, Brooke Owens, Gerrard Angione, Zavier Basnight, Jeremy Angione, Brianna Johnson, Matthew Williams; great-grandchildren, Aften Angione, Urijah Angione, London and Paris Angione.

Richard served his country in the U.S. Air Force, retiring May 31, 1967, at the age 38 as a staff sergeant. His career in the Air Force included a tour in Korea, two tours in Vietnam and two tours in Japan. By the end of his career, he was entitled to wear the Purple Heart Medal, the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, three Good Conduct Medals, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Presidential Unit Citation, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Small Arms Expert Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award with four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and he was a member of the Air Force Sergeants of America and also a member of the Church of the Nativity in Sarasota.

The Owens family would like to thank the entire staff at Tidewell Hospice for their outstanding care provided to Richard. Additionally, they would like to thank the Paralyzed Veterans of America. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Limbs for Life.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday Aug. 19, 2016, at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk. Burial will follow at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery. Condolences may be offered at www.RWBakerFH.com.