THOMAS DWIGHT OWENS

Thomas Dwight Owens, age 81, passed into rest after a brief illness on December 17, 2024. In his haunting melody “I Am Weary, Let Me Rest,” Ralph Stanley sang, “Now the light is swiftly fading; brighter scenes they now do show; I am standing by the river; angels wait to take me home.” A native of the Virginia mountains with a heart that never met a stranger, Tom leaves behind him a legacy of service and devotion to those he loved.
Tom was born on March 23, 1943 in Haysi to Francis and Marie (Richardson) Owens. He became a tool and die engineer for General Motors, a position which took him first to Michigan and finally to Galion, Oh. in 1984. On February 1, 1964, he wed his beloved wife Clara Ruth Phillips with whom he raised four loving daughters.
Tom could never sit still. In his younger years, he was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He completed thirteen marathons and ran at least ten miles each day as long as he was able. When such a feat was no longer tenable, he began taking daily walks. He befriended many neighbors along his route with whom he often stopped to visit. When his wife Clara became ill, he devoted himself to caring for her, giving her unconditional affection through unending acts of service. His roots in the hills and hollers of Virginia lay deep in his heart even after years of raising his family in Oh.; through music of bluegrass artists such as Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe, and Doc Watson, he kept his home close. When not listening to beloved records or attending live performances, he let the music he loved, full of Virginia bluebells and winding rivers, flow from his own hands as a talented guitarist. His children remember him as their best friend, a strong man who settled softly into grand-parenthood and who always upheld his family as his greatest treasure.
Tom is survived by his loving wife, Clara Owens; daughters, Barbie (Ken) Grix, Missy (Doug Elgin) Moore, Jenny (Kevin Mosier) Stinehour; grandchildren, Ian (Ashlie) Stinehour, Ashley (Nick) Justyn, Craig (Alexus) Bricker, Dylan (Shelby) Spencer, Tiffany Evans, Kyle Evans, and Tim (Kelsey) Shankle; great-grandchildren, Athena, Benson, Banks, Benjamin, and Stiles; and many more beloved friends and loved ones.He is preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Marie Owens; daughter, S. Michelle Evans; and grandson, Chad Grix.
Tom’s family will be holding private services but asks that everyone who was touched by his love celebrates his life in their own way in the weeks ahead.
Snyder Funeral Homes is honored to care for Tom’s family and oversee his arrangements. Loved ones are invited to visit snyderfuneralhomes.com to leave a message of love or a memory of Tom on his obituary.