Edward Allen Owens

Edward Allen Owens 

Uniontown lost its biggest fan, I lost the light of my life, and a next generation lost a wonderful man who they called, “Dad”, “Pops”,“PopPop” or “Uncle Al”. Edward Allen Owens died on August 29th. He was born in 1948 and graduated from his beloved Uniontown High School in 1966 and was honored to be inducted into their Hall of Fame. He was also grateful to the East End United Community Center, who in 2016 recognized him for his “Journalistic “Excellence and for Keeping our Collective History”. In 2023 the UBH committee presented him with the Dr. Fred Vaughn Community Service Award, for which he was very appreciative.

After high school Al worked at the garment factory for a year and then followed his brother Marlin’s footsteps and joined the Air Force. He used his GI Bill to attend the Columbia School of Broadcasting and took his first radio job in Connellsville. After Connellsville came opportunities in West Virginia, Ohio, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and Tacoma. Along the way he anchored weekends for Entertainment Tonight and picked up three Emmys for feature news.

In the nineties he returned to Uniontown, building websites and writing columns for the Herald Standard. Over the years he wrote a thousand columns on topics from politics to history to human interest. They ran the gamut from combatting Ann Coulter (Al on the left, Ann on the right) to extolling the virtues of penny candy. In addition, he and a friend compiled a DVD called “Hot Winter Nights” that highlighted Uniontown High School’s championship basketball teams. A year’s long labor of love gave birth to compilation of life in the East End that he debuted at a Black Homecoming. 

Al was born to Edward “Jack” Owens and Pearl Elizabeth (Ford) Owens. He was baptized into Mt. Rose Baptist Church and was forever proud to know that his great-grandfather, Thomas Ford helped to found that church. He was welcomed home by his brother Marlin and a large and loving family of cousins, aunts and uncles. Left to cherish his memory are his brother Marlin and wife Carolyn of Penn Hills. He also leaves his adoring wife, Terry Salmon Fitzgerald Owens. As mentioned before, he leaves a next generation of family who will carry on his legacy. These include, James Owens; Annaliese, Patrick, Theodore and Miles Hughes; Paul Sanford; Troy, Andrea and Madison Ford; Vanessa Salmon and Leo Kaplan: Meredith Fitzgerald and Travis Roderick; Mike Fitzgerald and Jennifer Fierst; Jerome and Sarah Krupa Fitzgerald; Ben and Amanda Mincavage and Haley Clanton; Katie Petrachonis and Ben DeCampos; John, Michelle, Johnny and Mackenzie Petrachonis; Annie, Jordan, Ethan and Austin Huff; and James Petrachonis. Of special note are the joys of his life who brought him happiness every day, his grandsons (who he fondly called his “knuckleheads”) Cooper and Logan Roderick. He will also be dearly missed by his in-laws, James Salmon and Mary Paiva; Mary Petrachonis; and John and Jill Salmon. I couldn’t begin to mention his many dear friends both from Uniontown and across the country, all of whom he enjoyed and loved.

Let’s pay tribute to Al by cherishing our home, encouraging young people… and voting for Kamala Harris.

We will honor his life on Sunday, September 8th 2024 from 1p.m. to 5p.m. at FREYVOGEL SLATER FUNERAL DIRECTORS, 112 Fort Couch Road, Bethel Park (Opposite Macy’s South Hills Village) 412-835-1860. I can’t say we will celebrate because we are heartbroken, but we will memorialize his well-lived life. There will be a blessing service and a flag ceremony during the last hour. His burial in the Cemetery of the Alleghenies will be private.

We welcome you to join us in Bethel Park, but if age or distance does not allow that we understand and hope you can take a moment to recall a happy memory. Feel free to share those memories with me and I will be happy to compile them into a treasure trove that will have a place of honor in our home.

www.slaterfuneral.com