Melvin “Mel” Burton Owen, age 92, died peacefully on December 6, 2016, at his home in Plano, Texas. Mel was born on October 9, 1924, in the same farmhouse and room that his father was born in on his grandfather’s farm in Whitenell, Virginia. Before graduating from high school, Mel was inducted into the United States Army and proudly served his country during World War II in the European Theater. Mel was a radio operator assigned to the 127th AAA Gun Battalion Mbl. (the “Screaming Eagle”) and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Decorations and citations earned included the Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon and World War II Victory Ribbon. The trip from America to England took two weeks. After being overseas for over 18 months, Mel arrived back in the states on January 24, 1946, was discharged, returned to Virginia, finished high school and moved to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago.
Mel met his “sweetie,” Delores “Dee” Yeadon, while attending a college football game between Illinois and Northwestern. Mel and Dee were married on August 30, 1947, at the Thorndyke Hilton Chapel at the University of Chicago. They loved going to sporting events, traveling and lived in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Pleasant Hills (Pennsylvania) and Toledo before moving to Plano, Texas in 1978 with their daughter, Kelly Ann Owen (born August 22, 1956). Prior to making the move to Texas, Mel traveled throughout the country selling coffee for Hills Brothers, after which he owned and operated a Marathon Station in the Chicago area. Upon moving to Texas, Mel embarked on a new career as a CNC operator for Texas Instruments. It was during this time that he earned an associate’s degree from Mountain View College. Mel retired from TI in 1992.
Mel and Dee traveled extensively, including trips to Ireland, Hawaii and Alaska. In retirement, Mel and Dee continued to travel and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Having met at a football game, Mel and Dee enjoyed attending and watching sports and had season tickets to the Chicago Cardinal’s football games before the Cardinals moved to St. Louis. After moving to Pittsburgh, Mel and Dee became fans of the Steelers and Pirates. Later in life, Mel and Dee became ardent fans of the University of Texas Longhorn Football team after being “converted” by their grandchildren. Mel also enjoyed hunting, big band and jazz music, reading western novels and watching his extensive collection of DVD movies.
Mel was straight forward and did not mince words. You always knew where you stood with Mel and could rely on him to give you his honest opinion. He remained sharp minded and relatively active up until his death and was able to spend time with close friends and family during his final days. Mel was preceded in death by his sweetheart and wife of 69 years, Dee, and his parents, John Hezzie Owen and Annie Lucy Powell Owen.
Mel is survived by his daughter Kelly and Kelly’s husband, Randy; his grandchildren, Ashley Ann Johnson and Randell Travis Johnson; his brother, Stafford Lee Owen, and Stafford’s sons, Stafford Jr., Bryan and Rusty (John) and their children; his nephews, Bobby and Brian Boren and Chuck and John Boecker, Chuck’s wife, Debbie, and their children, Julia, Alyssa, Matthew and Brendan; and numerous other loving relatives and friends.
Pursuant to the wishes of Mel and Dee, their ashes and resting urns will be interred, side-by-side, at the veteran’s cemetery. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Friday December 23, 2016, at DFW National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. Memorial donations may be made to: Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.