Bruce Owens

1931 - 2015

Bruce Edwin Owens, incredible and wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, as well as a true friend to many, went to Heaven on August 1, 2015. Bruce, 83, died at his home in Gambrills, Maryland, from complications related to pulmonary hypertension. Bruce was born on November 2, 1931, in Middletown, New York, to Charles Owens and Julia Taylor Owens. After graduating early from high school, he attended Florida State University for one year before enlisting in the Army. While in basic training he was asked to take a test to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was accepted to West Point, which he ultimately attended for two years before leaving to get married. He moved to Ohio and completed his education at Case Western Reserve, earning a degree in civil engineering, although he worked primarily in sales. Most recently, Bruce served as the Vice President of Sales at Plastic Safety Systems (PSS), where he worked from 1993 until he retired in 2011. He first worked for PSS's parent company, Electro General Plastics Corporation, starting in 1961. He was a long-standing member of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), and had served as an ATSSA board member. Bruce also served in several capacities for the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and as a board member of the Cleveland State University Transportation Center . Once retired, Bruce and wife Kay moved to the Annapolis, Maryland, area to enjoy retirement with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was a faithful Christian and most recently attended Belcroft Bible Church in Bowie, Maryland. For the 29 years before, Bruce attended Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous with 37 years of sobriety, and also enjoyed the beach and attending all types of sporting events. Bruce leaves loving memories to be cherished by his wife of 35 years, the former Kay Hare Bishop; two daughters, Nicole Owens (Michael Bogdan) and Michele Varga (Lazlo); a son Charles Lederer (Joanne); a stepson, C. James Bishop Jr. (Kathryn); a stepdaughter, Yvonne Bishop-Beatty; four granddaughters, Christine Miller (Chad), Stephanie Bishop (Ben Asplen), Natasha Papay (Travis), and Melissa Lederer; three grandsons, Andrew Bogdan, Stefan Owens, and Matthew Lederer; and four great-grandchildren, Dallas and Easton Miller, and Brennan and Audrey Asplen. His daughter, Karyn Owens; brother, Douglas Owens; and step-son-in-law, Ross Beatty, predeceased him. Bruce touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity, and maintained faith in God and his trademark sense of humor all the way to the end. Friends and family are invited to a memorial service for Bruce at Community United Methodist Church, 1690 Riedel Road, Crofton, Maryland, on August 29 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Homes for Our Troops, 6 Main Street, Taunton, MA 02780 (https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/HomesforOurTroops).