Peter William Roy “Bill” Owens, 91, passed away peacefully in his sleep early on Saturday, January 15th. Bill was able to have his last moments with his wife of 69 years and both of his daughters. Born August 12th, 1930 in Wealdstone, London, England, he was the second child of the late Leonard Roy and Rose Owens, and was preceded in death by his older sister, Peggy Hodge of London. He is survived by his wife Joy of Winsted, his son Paul (Edie) of Supply, NC, his son Mark (Carolyn) of Mt. Airy, MD, his daughter Krista of Middlebury, CT, his daughter Lisa (Joedy) of Winsted, CT, his 9 grandchildren Paul Jr., David, Ken, Peter, Wendy, Emily, Leela, Penny, and Carly, as well as his three great grandchildren Tanner, Adrianna, and Khloe, his nephew David (Pat) and extended family in the UK.
A true student of the world, Bill spent his life loving to learn and teach what he could. He served in the Royal Air Force where he attended night classes in RF engineering, and was eventually able to teach those classes as well. He used his profession as an RF Telecom Engineer to bring video communication to the world, and went out of his way to offer spots to women engineers at a time when there were few to be found. The sharpness of his mind was unmatched as was shown by his MENSA membership, which he gave up in pursuit of a more equitable way to share knowledge.
He met the love of his life, Joy, while working for British Telecom. She was working as a switchboard operator in the UK post office, which shared a building with BT. They were married in 1953 after a brief courtship, and traveled the world together while Bill set up telecom projects for diplomatic relations. He was able to do his immensely technical job while still being a support to his family at home, giving them love and encouragement in all of their endeavors.
He loved science fiction, specifically Dune, and shared his love of reading with all of his children and grandchildren. He loved musicals, and would often sing along – off key – to favorites like Les Mis. He was a phenomenal cook, and the family looked forward to his Yorkshire puddings on holidays with fervor.
He and Joy would often dance the foxtrot, and they were compared to water as they moved; graceful to the point of fluidity, with eyes only for each other.
He was an all-around athlete who enjoyed playing soccer in goal, cricket, cycling, and took up tennis and golf in his retirement. His family fondly remembers the ski trips they took together. Though the end of his life stalled his vigor, he loved talking to his granddaughter about her pursuits in soccer and rugby, and watching England in their matches.
He found another joy in his life at Holden Beach in North Carolina. The family vacationed there for many years, and he always lit up being near the sea. The sound of the waves brought him tranquility, and it’s where he will find his final rest.
He was gentle. Always the smartest person in the room, but one would never guess with his humility and congenial spirit. He wanted nothing more than to pass knowledge and create opportunities, and he was excellent at communicating at whatever level the person needed to succeed. He was kind, and patient, and would always sing when he cooked. He is so loved, and will be so missed by those who had the true privilege of knowing him.
Calling Hours will be held on Sunday from 1:00 – 3:00pm at Thurston Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield where memories will be shared.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Salvation Army, as he made a donation every year.