Obituary of David S. Owen

David Scott Owen of Newcastle, Maine, died in Augusta, Jan. 6, 2013, at the Maine Veterans Home. He was the loving husband of Joan Anestis Owen for 49 years and he will be dearly missed. David was born Oct. 15, 1933, to Florence and Howard Owen of Abington, Mass. David played varsity baseball and basketball, and was vice-president of his class at Abington High School before being drafted into the Army and served in Germany during the Korean War. He received an accounting degree from Burdette College and went on to a career in Information Systems with Raytheon, Scudder Reliance and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Many will remember him as the Little League Player Agent or as a volunteer member of the Finance Committee for the town of Abington. As much as David enjoyed his career, he embraced his 20 years of retirement as an opportunity to do for others. David and Joan spent three years in Worthing, England, where David was a volunteer administrator for Arab World Ministries. While in South Berwick, David became a certified literacy tutor, and for over 10 years he touched many lives teaching reading, math and GED preparation at Marshwood High Schools and Lincoln Countys Adult Education programs. Once in Newcastle, he served on the board of the Community Housing Improvement Project, worked countless shifts at the Ecumenical Food Pantry, and was active in the worship and mission of a number of churches, most recently the Water of Life Lutheran Church. David is survived by his wife, Joan; three children and their spouses, Eric and Erin Owen of Arlington, Va., Matthew and Margot Owen of Yarmouth, Maine, and Len and Holly Merriman of Sewickley, Pa.; 10 grandchildren; his sister, Jane Doughty; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his dear nephew, Jeffrey Doughty. A celebration of his life will be held at Water of Life Lutheran Church in Newcastle, Saturday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, you consider a donation to the Newcastle Ecumenical Food Pantry, P.O. Box 46, Newcastle, ME 04553; the Community Housing Improvement Project (CHIP), P.O. Box 6, New Harbor, ME 04554; or Water of Life Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 206, Newcastle, ME 04553. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.