Owen Whitworth

On August 27, 2025, Owen Whitworth passed from his earthly life into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) over ten years ago but was able to continue with his daily tasks and routines until October 2024 when his decline became more pronounced. In the last few months before his passing, he began to struggle for breath. In his final days, the disease took its toll, but even then, Owen never lost his faithful positive attitude. He remained steady in spirit and gratitude until the very end.

Owen was born in Soda Springs, Idaho, on August 15, 1949, to Edgar Lee and Lucina (Gustaveson) Whitworth. He grew up on his family's ranch in Chesterfield, Idaho, alongside his parents, his sister Mary Lee and brother Richard. In the tight-knit community where he grew up, his neighbors were also his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was there that Owen developed the core values of hard work, faith, and the importance of family- the principles that would guide him throughout his life.

He attended North Gem School in Bancroft, Idaho, from elementary through high school, graduating in 1967. Afterward, he enrolled at Idaho State University, where he met and later married the love of his life, Shirley (Nordseth), in 1970. After marriage and the birth of his first daughter, Owen worked nights at Buttrey Foods to support his growing family while attending classes. He graduated with honors from Idaho State in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in accounting, soon after passed the CPA exam, and after the employment requirement was fulfilled, he became a Certified Public Accountant.

His professional career began at the Idaho Legislative Auditor's Office in Boise where the family lived for three and a half years. In 1978, they relocated to Austin, Texas when Owen accepted a position with R.J. Hansen & Associates, a consulting firm contracted to design automated systems for the Texas Highway Department. In that role, Owen led the design of the financial and cost accounting systems, working closely with programmers from the Texas Highway Department. His leadership and expertise in that project led to a permanent position in 1981 with the Department, where he became Manager of Accounting. In 1984, he was promoted to Audit Director for what had become the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Owen served the Department faithfully until his retirement in 2011.

Over the course of his three-decade career with TxDOT, he earned the respect of his peers and the appreciation of countless public servants. In 1999, he was elected by fellow Texas state employees to the Employees Retirement System (ERS) Board of Trustees, serving three four-year terms, including time as both Chair and Vice Chair.

Owen's professional leadership extended well beyond the agency. He served in many leadership roles, including:

-Chairman of the State Agencies Internal Audit Forum

-Founding member and Chair of the State Agency Internal Audit Forum

-Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair of the AASHTO Subcommittee on Internal and External Audit

-Member of the Southwest Intergovernmental Audit Forum

-Active member of the Austin Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors

He held both CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) credentials-a clear testament to his deep commitment to professional excellence. Throughout his career, Owen received several prestigious honors, including the Journey Toward Excellence Award, and under his leadership, twice the Audit Office Employer of the Year awards from the Austin Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors. Upon his retirement and in recognition of his exemplary public service, leadership, and lasting contributions to the people of Texas, Owen was formally honored by both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate with resolutions of commendation.

Owen was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and son, steadfast in his faith and unwavering in his love for his family. A long-time member of Grace Covenant Church, he loved the Lord deeply and could be found each morning, usually before dawn, at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and his Bible, often surrounded by other Bibles and commentaries, studying the Word as he began each day in introspection, praise, and quiet reflection. It was a routine that shaped not just his mornings, but the way he lived his life.

Owen was a man you could always count on, whether you needed a listening ear, sound advice, help carrying the weight of the world, or someone to save the day when things went awry. He was always there: steady, dependable, and reliable. His presence and character were a rock-solid grounding strength, and his love showed up in a thousand small, selfless acts, offered without hesitation. He was the unmovable, unwavering rock of our family. The delight and pride he had for his loved ones were unmatched, though quietly expressed but deeply felt in everything he did. Owen had strong morals and deeply rooted values, and he taught us-through both words and example-to always do the right thing. His quiet integrity and steady guidance shaped the lives of those around him, leaving a legacy of goodness, fairness, honesty, integrity, hard work, and strength that will live on through his family. "There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God's hand." Ecclesiastes 2:24 He genuinely enjoyed his work and would quickly respond to anyone who complained "I hafta go to work," saying "I get to go to work!"

He loved his family, his faith, football, birds, old westerns, and history. He especially enjoyed birdwatching in his bird garden, where he took joy in identifying birds and admiring their unique features, colors, and songs, a hobby he quickly discovered after moving to Austin with such a variety of birds in his own backyard. His mornings also included the daily Statesman word scramble puzzle. He was an avid reader, often juggling several books at once, and his curious mind never stopped learning. He especially enjoyed diving into historical biographies while afternoons were spent watching classic westerns like Bonanza or Gunsmoke, which brought him both nostalgia and quiet comfort. In the early years of retirement, while his health allowed, Owen and Shirley enjoyed cruising and sightseeing, often with family or close college friends.

Owen was preceded in death by his parents Edgar Lee (Spud) and Lucina Whitworth, sister Mary Lee Whitworth, brother Richard Whitworth, and infant twin brothers George and Gene Whitworth. Owen is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Shirley Whitworth, his daughters, Jennifer Brewer, Amy Nash (Jeremy), Katy Montoya (Mike), and grandchildren Noah Brewer, Elijah Montoya, and Grace Montoya. His loss to our family is beyond measure but we know he lives on in eternity.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" 2 Timothy 4:7.