Joan Rettig Owen
Joan Rettig Owen, 88, of Wabash, died at 2 a.m., Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at Autumn Ridge Rehabilitation Center in Wabash.
She was born May 3, 1926, in Wabash, to George O. and Lois (Ellis) Rettig. Joan was a 1944 graduate of Wabash High School, and attended Indiana University. She married James W. ‘Bill’ Owen in Wabash Dec. 1, 1946. He passed away on March 11.
She worked at the Wabash Plain Dealer, and Milliner Printing, both of Wabash. Joan was a member of the Wabash Christian Church. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she was a past Worthy Matron, served as a soloist, and was the first Worthy Advisor of Rainbow Girls. Joan was a member of the Wabash Valley Dance Theater Board and was a past president. She taught swimming at the Honeywell Pool and at Lukens Lake. Joan was a seamstress, enjoyed traveling with her husband, and loved her family.
She is survived by three children: Jayne (Ron) Bailey, New Haven; Nancy Owen (Knight) Barton, Charleston, S.C.; David (Jennifer) Owen, Wabash; nine grandchildren: Jena (Blake) Collinsworth, Westfield; Ben (Jen) Bailey, Lagro; Owen Barton, Maui, Hawaii; Thatcher Barton, Ithaca, N.Y.; Churie Owen, Wabash; Krofton (Sharon) Owen, Saint Petersburg, Fla.; D.J. (Breanna) Bennett, Norfolk, Va.; Courtney (Jared) Eakright, Wabash; and Andrew (Natasha) Bennett, Dalton, Ga.; 13 great-grandchildren; and her brother: Harley Lee Rettig, Livingston, Tenn.
She was also preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave., Wabash, with Nancy Owen Barton officiating. Burial will be in Falls Cemetery, with Rev. Melinda Kammerer officiating. Friends may call 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Family Life Care, 108 S. Jefferson Street, Berne, IN 46711 or Wabash Order of the Eastern Star.