John and Frances Owens

John Douglas and

Frances Anne (Noonan) Owens

Residents of Daly City

September 3, 1924-May 30, 2010

November 22, 1927-November 10, 2010

Native San Franciscans, John and Frances Owens met in their teenage years & married January 31, 1949.

Parents to 3 loving children, Kenneth Rand (married to Meeyung Cho), Peggy Anne (married to Donald DeMarco) & Christine Binke (married to Tony Susanto), grandparents to Ed, Robert, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Julie, Leilani, Douglas, Maxim & Kevin, and 9 great grandchildren.

First born to Beauregard (Bing) & Gertrude Owens, John is survived by his sisters Lee Noeller & Mickey Webb & brother Mark Owens. John joined the US Navy at 17 & retired as CPO Officer serving from 1942 to 1963. During his naval career, he served in WW II onboard the USS Hornet (CV -12) in bombing squadron VB-11 receiving the Presidential Unit Citation; Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Two, VS-12 in the Pacific,VS-32 & Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 892 during the Korean War.

During Operation Miki in 1949, his torpedo plane ditched in the waters off the Hawaiian Islands. Instead of swimming away from the plane to safety, he went to the back & freed a crewman who was trapped inside. In 1961, he became an original member of the Navy's famous Chuting Stars Parachute Team. He maintained friendships with many squad members throughout the years including Ray Parsons, Tom Porter, Ted Shireman, Frank Miller, and George Russell, his pilot on the USS Hornet.

After retiring from the Navy, John worked for the State of CA and retired from SFSU as an A/V technician. He was a supporter of the USS Hornet Museum. Known as Jack to his many friends, he enjoyed being the neighborhood's "Mr. Fix It".

Frances was born to Joseph and Lillian Noonan and survived by her brother Dan Noonan & wife Catherine . She was a PBX operator & received her Practical Nursing certificate. Fran was a homemaker raising 3 children while Jack was serving our country, sometimes being separated for months at a time.

Moving many times throughout the US, they settled in Daly City in 1974 where Fran became lasting friends with Jackie Grado, Roz Linalli & Josette Piazza. The foursome were avid canasta and bingo players & often travelled to Reno together.

Fran enjoyed military history, classic films and antique shopping. "Tarzan" Jack often joked with longtime friend Carmel "Jane" Cormack while tending to their respective (jungle) gardens, while Fran enjoyed an Irish family connection to her County Cork friend and neighbor.

Jack & Fran have touched many lives leaving loving memories to their family & friends. They will be missed dearly but live in our hearts forever.

Private ceremonies were held for both.