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Birth:          1 Sep 1917 Wessington Springs, Jerauld Co., S.D.
Death:          9 Jan 2009 Arlington, Va.
Burial:         Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, R.I.

Notes
My Read Fam on ancestry
findagrave
Long time community volunteer in Prov
OWEN, KATHRYN G., 91, a long time community volunteer in Providence, went home 
to be with the Lord and her husband, her beloved 'Sweetie Pie', Dwight Hall Owen; 
and her son Dwight Hall Owen, Jr. who preceded her. She passed on Thursday, 
January 9 after complications arising from an operation in Arlington, Virginia where she 
was visiting her son Rob Owen and his family for the holidays. 

 Kay Owen had three loves: her family, community service, and education. She was 
well known in the Providence community for her numerous volunteer and community 
leadership positions. Among her accomplishments was being the first Chairwoman of 
the Board of United Way for Southeastern New England; one of the first Rhode Island 
state directors for UNICEF, and one of three founders of Volunteers in Action (VIA) in 
1969. She also served many years on the Board of the Rhode Island Red Cross, was 
Vice Chairman of the National Conference of Christians and Jews Rhode Island and 
Southeast New England Chapter, and was active with Junior League. 

 Mrs. Owen was appointed by Governor DiPrete to the Rhode Island Coastal 
Resources Management Council in the 1980s. Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci 
appointed her to the Board of the Providence Parks Commission in the 1980s as well. 
She was also a former president of Keep Providence Beautiful, Inc. 

 In 1984, at the age of 67, Mrs. Owen ran as a Republican for State Senator in District 
2, which encompasses the East Side of Providence where she was a resident since 
before World War II. Though she lost the election she told people the best part was 
walking the streets getting to know the voters. As she said when she ran, 'My going 
into politics is just a continuation of my commitment to volunteer service.' 

 Her long career in volunteerism began during World War II when she was living in Los 
Angeles while her husband served in the Pacific in the Navy. During the day she 
worked at a brokerage house and in the evenings she drove a Red Cross ambulance 
to pick up the wounded coming home by ship from the Pacific. 

 Her commitment to education in Rhode Island spanned decades and included being a 
Member of the Corporation of Johnson and Wales University; being on the President's 
Council at Providence College; serving on the Board of Trustees at Moses Brown 
School two different times; being one of the founders of Rhode Island Summer 
Enrichment Camp (RISE); and she was currently serving on the Board of Trustees for 
Community Preparatory School. 

 She was born Kathryn Y. Gehan in Wessington Springs, South Dakota on September 
1, 1917. She graduated from Central High School in Sioux City, Iowa, attended 
Morningside College in Sioux City, and graduated from George Washington University. 

 In 1987 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Johnson and Wales University. 

 Kay Owen is survived by her two sons John R. Owen and Robert W. Owen. John and 
his wife Treacy have two sons, Dwight who is in his last year of medical school at 
Trinity Medical College in Ireland, and Andrew, a first year law student at Fordham 
University. They live in New Rochelle, New York. Rob Owen and his wife Beth have 
two daughters, Kathryn, her namesake who is a junior at University of Virginia, and 
Ashley, a freshman at Northern Virginia Community College. They live in Falls Church, 
Virginia. 

 Her oldest son, Dwight Hall Owen, Jr. was killed in Vietnam in 1967. Her 'Sweetie Pie' 
went to the Lord in 1981. She was a longtime member of Central Congregational 
Church. 

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her memory and name to the Owen Fund 
at Moses Brown School or to Community Preparatory School in Providence. 
Condolences may be left at: monahandrabblesherman.com 

 A celebration service of her life will be held at Central Congregational Church on 
Angell Street in Providence on Saturday, January 17 at 11 AM. 
 Providence Journal (RI) - Wednesday, January 14, 2009 

Parents
GEHAN John Charles ()
SEDGWICK Caroline Agatha ()

Siblings
GEHAN Kathryn Yvonne (1 Sep 1917 - 9 Jan 2009)

Marriage To OWEN Dwight Hall (11 Jul 1914 - 11 Mar 1981)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
OWEN Herbert William (14 Dec 1871 - 1927)
FRENCH Hattie Ethelyn (May 1873 - 1900)

Children by OWEN Dwight Hall 11 Jul 1914 - 11 Mar 1981
OWEN Dwight Hall (18 Feb 1946 - 30 Aug 1967)
OWEN John Russell ()
OWEN Robert Winslow ()

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