Lt (Jg) Ray Henderson Owen

Lt (jg) Ray Henderson Owen

F6F Hellcat Pilot – Fighter Squadron VF-81 – U.S.S. Wasp (CV-18)

World War II

Lt (jg) Ray Henderson Owen was born December 1,1921, in Paris, Illinois; son of Ray and Glenna Owen. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan, graduating from Cass Technical High School in 1940. After graduation he worked as an electrical apprentice, and it was during this time that Pearl Harbor was attacked and the country was drawn into WWII.

In August 1942, Ray joined the United States Naval Reserve, leaving home on December 12, 1942 for ground school and in-air training. In March of 1944, after 15 months of training in several locations, Ray was assigned to Fighter Group VF-81 at Otis Air Force Base, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he qualified to fly the feared F6F Hellcat fighter plane. In September 1944, Ray was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Wasp, serving in the Pacific Theater until March 1945. He flew the Hellcat in missions over the Philippines, Formosa, Okinawa, Hong Kong, China, and Tokyo. Ray received a number of medals including the Philippine Liberation Medal and Republic of the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation Badge, the WW II Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the Air Medal. He was honorably discharged from the United States Naval Reserve on October 1, 1956.

While stationed at Otis Airfield on Cape Cod in the summer of 1944, Ray met his future bride, Isabel Mahoney. They married on April 21, 1945 and were happily married for 65 years. After the war, they moved to Detroit. Coming from a family of union electricians, it was only natural that Ray join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58, Detroit. Ray worked as an electrician in and around Detroit, as well as San Paulo, Brazil, Shreveport, Louisiana, Rockford, Illinois, and Cleveland, Ohio, retiring in 1990.

Ray joined the Retirees of Local 58 in 1990 and has served as its’ treasurer for 30 years. He received his 75-year pin in 2020 as a member of IBEW Local 58, Detroit. Ray has been a proud member of VFW Post 1519, Northville, for 76 years, having joined in 1945 after returning from WWII. He also served as an usher at St. Colette’s Church in Livonia for many years.

Ray and Isabel moved to Northville in 1978 where they enjoyed many years together, making friends and living the Northville experience. Isabel passed away in October 2010. On April 16, 2022, Ray, 100 years old, was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame at Air Zoo Museum in Kalamazoo.

Ray swam several times a week with the same group of friends for over 30 years.  At least once a week swimming was followed by lunch and he also regularly dined with members of his local union.  Ray was a ruthless card player and an outstanding cribbage player.  He played pinochle with a card club for over 50 years and every family gathering involved a card game.  Nobody ever wanted to sit to the left of Ray when the game started.  He and his wife took trips to Vegas twice a year where he tried his luck at roulette and blackjack.  Ray had an incredible sense of humor, a dry wit, and was a great practical joker. He was very close to his family and loved spending time with them sharing family dinners, playing cards, celebrating special occasions, and hosting family Christmas for over 50 years.  Ray was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and friend; he will be missed by all who loved him.

Ray and Isabel raised three children, Ray, Mary, and Janet. He is the proud grandfather of nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. He is survived by his children, Ray (Cheryl Bush) Owen, Mary (Jim) Streeter, and Janet (Barry) Roscoe; his grandchildren, Raymond Owen, Brian (Kelly) Owen, Andrea (Brian) Fleischmann, Andrew (Stephanie) Streeter, Michael (Erin) Streeter, David (Katherine) Streeter, Kevin Roscoe, Christopher Roscoe, Jessica Roscoe (Jamie McKeown); his great grandchildren, Benjamin Owen, Annie Owen, Grayson Fleischmann, Crosby Fleischmann, Marlowe Fleischmann, Isabel Streeter, Annaliese Streeter, Avery Streeter, Dakota Roscoe, Jaden Celestial, Nicholas Roscoe, Nathan Roscoe, and Jade McKeown; and his sister Virginia Owen Hovestreydt of California. Ray is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 20, 2022 from 2pm until 8pm with a VFW Service at 7pm. A funeral service will be held, Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 11:30am, visitation beginning at 10:30am at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 West Dunlap, Northville. He will be laid to rest at Rural Hill Cemetery in Northville.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions would be appreciated to Air Zoo Development , 6151 Portage Road, Portage, MI 49002.