Reita Kay Owen

April 30, 1940 - December 30, 2024

Reita Kay Owen was born April 30, 1940, near Dublin, IA daughter of Keith and Arlene (Robertson) Augustine and passed away surrounded by her family on December 30, 2024.

Reita attended Dutch Creek School and graduated from West Chester High School. She married Jerry Owen of Crawfordsville, IA at First Baptist Church in Washington, IA on February 14, 1960.

She worked at Washington State Bank and later as bookkeeper for Owen & Sons Construction until 1981. At that time, Jerry and Reita became missionaries at Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, TX. In 2000, they retired from full-time ministry but continued to serve as winter volunteers at RGBI as well as spending several summers at Glorieta Conference Center in Glorieta, NM and the Mailbox Club in Valdosta, GA and volunteering at different Christian ministries for the next 17 years. Upon their second retirement, they settled in Hot Springs, AR where she was a member of First Baptist Church.

She enjoyed sewing and for many years worked in the sewing room at RGBI and continued at First Baptist Church in the quilting ministry.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Keith and Arlene Augustine, her in-laws, Max and Edith Owen, brother-in-law Gary Owen, sister-in-law Janet Owen, son-in-law Robert Mace and niece Paula Owen.

Survivors include husband, Jerry Owen of Hot Springs, AR. Children, Kimberly Mace, also of Hot Springs, AR, Jill (Chris) Goodwin of Colorado Springs, CO and Chad (Julie) Owen of Frisco, TX. Grandchildren Luke (Amber) Mace of Chambersburg, PA, Jerry (Jennifer) Mace and Nathan (Terri) Mace of Hot Springs, AR, Ben (Cheri) Mace of Boston, MA, Rebekah (Joel) Noyes of Chambersburg, PA, Bradley and Michael Owen of Frisco, TX. She is also survived by siblings Gerry ( Larry) DeLong of Washington, Iowa and Ron (Sandy) Augustine of Nevada, IA, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ed (Darlene) Owen of Brighton, IA. Also included are 14 great-grandchildren and 16 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at First Baptist Church, Hot Springs, AR on January 2, 2025 at 2 pm and in Wayland, IA at Independent Bible Church on January 13, 2025 visitation from 4 - 6 pm and a memorial service at 7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Rio Grande Bible Institute, 4300 S. Business 281, Edinburg, TX 78539 or Ukraine Challenge, c/o First Baptist Church, 2350 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901.