Elmer Owens Obituary

Elmer Owens

Professor Emeritus Elmer Owens age 93 passed away 4/23/2013. Born in West Pittston, PA on October 14, 1919. Elmer appreciated music playing both the piano and trumpet. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Syracuse University in 1941. Elmer joined the Army Air Corps, becoming a fighter pilot ultimately flying missions out of Iwo Jima until the end of World War II. After the war he returned to graduate school attending Syracuse and later the University of Iowa. Interestingly, Elmer stuttered as a child but never while piloting his P51-D Mustang. He was able to resolve his stuttering and receive a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. His work began as a speech therapist serving in public schools in Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. He developed an interest in hearing problems and began a PhD program at the University of Pittsburgh, PA while also working for the Commonwealth of PA as a hearing specialist. He received his PhD in 1959, and started working as an assistant professor in the Audiology and Speech department at the University of California, San Francisco working with Dr. Francis A. Sooy. He worked on the team that pioneered the cochlear implant. At the same time, he was a faculty member in the Hearing and Speech Sciences PhD program at the University of California, Santa Barbara campus. In 1985, he retired as Professor Emeritus and since then has maintained a part-time practice as a consultant on stuttering.


He is survived by a sister, Alice, in New Orleans, and seven nieces and nephews. He was a Life Member of the American and California Speech and Hearing Associations, and a member of the Unitarian-Universalist Society of San Francisco. Recent volunteer activities have included the Society for Community Work, the Faithful Fools Street Ministry, and the Up on Top After-School Program. Publications include the co-editing of an early book on cochlear implants, a monograph, and some 40 research papers. A celebration of life will be held at the Unitarian-Universalist Society of San Francisco 1187 Franklin St on Sunday May 19th 2:30pm. Donations can be made to faithfulfools.org and upontop.org.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Apr. 25 to May 5, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
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3 Entries

My condolences to all the Owens family. I didn’t know Elmer had passed. Grandpa Clyde and my mom Sophia Owens loved him dearly and the times they spent together before my mom’s and Grandpa’s passing in 1997/ 2005 respectively. Grandpa would always share stories of earlier good times with family at Sunday dinner. My children grew up respecting education as the entire Owens family did. My son with the encouragement of Grandpa became a toxicologist/ trauma ER Dr. and completed his undergrade at UC St Barbara where Elmer previously taught. My daughter also became a
Dr. Clinical Psychology from UCLA. Our third earned her BS from St Mary’s College Moraga on the east bay of San Francisco where Elmer lived. So much influence form their Grandpa and the Owens family. ♥
Monica & Jim Krueger
Rancho Cucamonga CA

Monica Krueger

Family

March 20, 2021

I was lucky to be a beneficiary of his kindness. Thank you Dr. Owens.

Maria

May 5, 2013

Elmer was the best next door neighbor. He also helped you out when you called on him. He was a dedicated member of the condo association and we could not accomplish the things we did without Elmer. I will miss him and am so thankful he was my neighbor.
With sympathy, Patti

April 30, 2013

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