Robert Hunter Owens

Robert Hunter Owens, 90, passed away on February 28, 2012, in his home in Lynchburg. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1921 and was the son of Baker Leroy Owens and Lillian Johnston Owens.   He was predeceased by his brother, Baker L. Owens, Jr. and his wife Dorothy Hedden Owens. He received his B.S. degree in Naval Architecture at the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, 1944, his M.A. in mathematics from Columbia University, 1948, and his Ph.D. in mathematics from California Institute of Technology, 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy, 1944-1946. He retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1964 as Lieutenant Commander.

He served as Instructor of Mathematics at Stevens Institute of Technology; Teaching Assistant at California Institute of Technology; Research Associate at the Division of Applied Mathematics at Brown University; Physical Science Coordinator at the Office of Naval Research; Assistant and Associate Professor of Mathematics and Director of Computer Center at the University of New Hampshire; Acting Head of Mathematical Science Section at the National Science Foundation; Professor and Chairman of the Department Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia; Liaison Scientist of the Office of Naval Research in London, England.   He published numerous research papers.

He is survived by his wife, Harriett Clausen Owens; his four children, Robert Hunter Owens, Jr., Laura Lucille Owens, David Johnston Owens and John Martin Owens; and his five grandchildren, Rokuco Lucian Pierce, Kieran Samuel Owens, Elke Genevieve Madeleine Owens, Hanna Katherine Owens and Cosmos Tobias Tremblay Owens.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. at the Summit, 1400 Enterprise Drive, Lynchburg, Virginia. Memorial gifts may be made to the charities of your choice.