Wilbur Harold Owens II

A celebration of life for Wilbur Harold Owens II, 85, of Haughton, will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at First United Methodist Church of Bossier 201 John Wesley Boulevard Bossier City, Louisiana at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will be held on September 9, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.

Wilbur Harold Owens II was born on February 26, 1938, to Wilbur Harold Sr. and Grace Louise Propes in Houston, Texas and joined Jesus in paradise on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

Wilbur and his parents moved to Shreveport, Louisiana shortly after his birth. He grew up playing baseball and was a stand-out cadet on the ROTC Rifle Team earning him top honors, and he was a recognized marksman in the National Junior NRA. He graduated from Fair Park High School in 1956, and continued working for his high school employer, Big Chain grocery store, for another three years until he enlisted in the US Army in November 1959.

He served in the Army for three years, earning the rank of sergeant, was a crew chief, was recognized as Outstanding Trainee, and was an expert rifle marksman during his service. However, with the threat of the US entering the Vietnam War, his mother encouraged him to retire from service and enroll in college, fearing that she would lose her only child. Honoring his mother’s request, he opted to serve another two years in the Army Reserves and enrolled at NSU to study education, where he met his future wife, Mary Lynn. He graduated with his BA from NSU and went on to earn his master’s in education from LSU.

He was a 7th and 8th-grade math teacher for over 35 years, spending his first 27 years in the classroom at Rusheon Middle School. For over 50 years he was an avid tennis player, a Mason, and a member of First United Methodist Church of Bossier City. He loved learning as much as he did teaching, and he was constantly reading and researching about health and wellness. He was fascinated with Eastern Medicine before it became a trend in the US. He appreciated nature and had a deep respect for all of God’s creatures. He inherited the ability to build anything he wanted and delighted in constructing and flying radio-controlled airplanes. He relished competition, whether it was on the tennis court, over a chess board, or with a deck of cards and a group of friends. And, while tennis was his passion, his girls were his heart, and he could always be found cheering them on from nearby.

Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Audrey Owens, of Anadarko, Oklahoma; uncle, John C. Propes and wife, Miriam, of Medford, Oregon; father-in-law, Howard J. Cathey; mother-in-law, Tommy N. Cathey; and brother-in-law, Howard N. Cathey. He is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Mary Lynn Cathey Owens, of Stonewall; daughter, Jamie Owens Jones, and husband, Jeremy, of Bossier City, Louisiana; daughter, Jennifer Owens Black, and husband, Rev. Dr. John Robert, of Lake Charles, Louisiana; best friend and brother in Christ, Emmett Carson, and wife, Patsy of Lafayette, Louisiana; his six grandchildren: Colin Black, Mallory Black, Emme Jones, Jonah Jones, Carson Black, and Reece Black; cousin, Sherry Propes Hayes, and husband, Bob, of Medford, Oregon; sister-in-law, Diane Cathey McDonald, and husband, A.W. ,of Stonewall; brother-in-law, Tom Cathey, and wife, Martha, of Shreveport, Louisiana; sister-in-law, Martha Cathey Keener, and husband, Tommy, of Lubbock, Texas, and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Living Water - Lake Charles Global Methodist Church, 3940 Holly Hill Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605, or First United Methodist Church of Bossier City, 201 John Wesley Blvd., Bossier City, LA 71112-2321.

The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Stephen White, Dr. Peyman Roohani, Dr. Paul Rushing, Dr. Kirtan Koticha, and Lauren Scheffy, PA-C. Also, to his precious granddaughter, Emme, and niece, Kathy McDonald Lewis, who were there by his side throughout his battle and offered constant support to Mary Lynn.