Baker Owens

LAKE WALES -- Mr. Baker T. Owens Sr., a citrus contractor for W.G. Roe Citrus, died of cancer Monday (Oct. 6, 2003) at Life Care Center. He was 77. "He worked in the citrus industry at least 45 years," said his wife, Emma Jean Owens. "He just was a great person and everybody liked him." Born in Georgiana, Ala., on Sept. 7, 1926, Mr. Owens came to Lake Wales from Woodstown, N.J., in 1948. He married Emma Jean on Nov. 17, 1948, and to celebrate their 50th anniversary, the couple renewed their vows at Bible Way Church, with a reception that followed at the Lake Wales Community Center. Mr. Owens began working in the citrus industry at the age of 21, working for a couple of businesses before retiring in his early 70s as a citrus contractor at W.G. Roe Citrus Co. His wife described him as an outdoors type person who enjoyed fishing and hunting on occasion. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. "That is what kept him going. He was so crazy about the grandchildren," Emma Jean Owens said. He was an active member of First Born Church of The Living God in Lake Wales and was chairman of the deacon board. In addition to his wife, Mr. Owens is survived by his sons, Baker T. Owens Jr., Kissimmee, Freddie Owens, Madison, Ala., and Spencer Owens, Charlotte, N.C.; daughters, Francine Bolder and Sharene Owens, both of Lake Wales; sister, Willie B. Porter, Toledo, Ohio; 19 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be this evening from 7:30 to 9 this evening at First Born Church in Lake Wales. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Allen Temple AME Church, 241 C St., Lake Wales. Burial will be in Lake Wales Cemetery. Epps Mortuary, Lake Wales.