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1926
2014
Owens, Rosemary June EL CAJON -- Rosemary fought a six-year battle with Alzheimer's Disease, after beating breast cancer twice over a 30-year span. Born in San Diego on November 23, 1926 and raised mostly in Oakland, Rosemary was a single mother of her three boys for several years, living for at times in Spokane and Riverside before returning to San Diego, where she met her husband, Howard B. Owens, Jr. while working at Heavenly Donuts at Midway and Rosecrans in San Diego. Howard was the manager of the store and would eventually own the chain of local donut shops. They married in 1960 and had a son together, Howard B. Owens III. In 1976, they moved to El Cajon, where they opened Howard's Bakery in 1978. The bakery became a mainstay for the families of East San Diego County, providing many wedding and graduation cakes and supplying the pies and pastries that made holidays and gatherings so special. After their retirement, they enjoyed traveling together. In 2005, they moved to Bakersfield be near their sons, Larry and Howard. Rosemary loved to cook for her family and will be remembered for her countless recipes and talent in the kitchen. Family members say she was the epitome of class and beauty and was always dressed to impress with perfect hair and nails. Rosemary's many hobbies included reading, needlepoint, crochet, knitting and hand-crafted Christmas ornaments. "In the 1980s and 1990s, my parents were well known and popular in El Cajon, all because of the bakery," said Howard III, now a resident of Batavia, N.Y. "As a reporter in East County, my name alone opened a lot of doors to sources that I might not otherwise have gotten. I mentioned that to another reporter working in Riverside who was from El Cajon and he said, "Of course. Your parents are the closest thing to royalty in El Cajon. That's a measure of how popular Howard's was in its hayday." Rosemary is survived by her husband, Howard B. Owens, Jr., her three sons and their wives, Don and Judie Walker, Larry and Yong Walker and Howard and Billie Owens, as well as stepdaughter Connie Kirkpatrick and stepson Vernon Owens along with her 12 grandchildren and several great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, retired Major Robert A. Walker, USAF, who succombed to cancer February 5th. Rosemary's funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m., Feb. 22nd in Bakersfield. A celebration of life will be held at the family residence immediately following. In lieu of flowers, your donations to the Alzheimer's Association of Kern County are greatly appreciated. (www.ADAKC.com)
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3 Entries
Board members of the El Cajon Historical Society remember the Owens' as supportive, long-time members -- and outstanding providers of hearty baked goods to the entire community. They were fine representatives of the city's long history of good neighbors and dependable business practices. Eldonna P. Lay, Curator Knox House Museum.
February 24, 2014
I will always remember working for Rosemary and Howard at Howard's Bakery. Her thoughtfulness will also be remembered...to this day I still make a spare-rib soup she gave me the recipe for and once brought in for all the employees. My condolences go out to her family.
Teresa Elliott
February 23, 2014
It was my pleasure to have known Rosemary and to have worked with her for so many years.
February 20, 2014
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