Rev. Eddie W. Owen

Eddie Wayne Owen

Bartow – Rev. Eddie W. Owen, 83, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 7, 2026. He was born on March 11, 1943, in Oneonta, Alabama, to the late Henry Levi Owen, Jr. and Jesse Mae Price Owen. In 1951, the family moved to Bartow, Florida.

Eddie was a star running back for the Bartow High School Yellowjackets and graduated in 1961. Early in his senior year, he attended a Billy Graham crusade where he gave his life to Christ and committed himself to full-time Christian ministry. That decision changed everything. Eddie had always been a bit of a rebel; he simply became a rebel with a calling.

His friends were shocked when he announced that he was going to Bible college to be a preacher. There were even a few whispered rumors that he paid his college tuition with money he made bootlegging whiskey in high school. Whether those stories grew in the telling or not, one thing was certain: nobody who knew the young Eddie Owen expected him to end up in the pulpit.

He graduated from Johnson University (formerly Johnson Bible College) in Knoxville, Tennessee, with a degree in preaching in 1965. While there, he managed to win the heart of Mary Helen Gilmore, the prettiest girl in school. They were married on December 22, 1963.

Together, they ministered to congregations in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Florida. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Eddie was actively involved in evangelistic work with Revival Fires and served in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and the Fiji Islands.

During this period, Mary Helen was diagnosed with a severe and debilitating kidney disease. Living on a pastor's salary while facing overwhelming medical expenses presented tremendous challenges. Her medical bills were more in a month than Eddie made in a year. Determined to provide for his growing family, he moved them to Bartow and went to work for Metalcoat, Inc. of Florida in the thriving phosphate industry.

Though his vocation changed, his calling never did. Whether in a church building or a phosphate plant, Eddie never stopped being a minister. In 1990, he became lead pastor of First Christian Church in Bartow while continuing to work at Metalcoat. He faithfully served in both roles until retiring from Metalcoat in 2013 so he could care for his wife full-time.

For the last seven years of her life, Mary Helen suffered with dementia. Eddie refused to place her in a facility. Instead, he watched videos, sought advice from caregivers, and read every book he could find. Then he did what he had always done when faced with a challenge: he showed up every day. He cared for Mary Helen in their home until she went to be with the Lord in 2017.

But Eddie's story was not over.

To help navigate his grief, he took up cycling. He started slowly, but before long he was riding 15 to 20 miles a day. It was on the bike trail that he met Arlene. What followed was a whirlwind romance and five happy years together, proving that God still had blessings in store and that it is never too late for a new chapter.

Eddie loved taking long walks around Bartow. He loved riding his bike and traveling to new places. He loved reading and studying the Bible, especially the book of Hebrews. He loved his family dearly. But more than anything else, he loved sharing the love of Jesus—whether he was behind the pulpit, out on the bike trail, or standing behind you in line at Publix. A casual conversation with Eddie often became a Gospel message before you realized what had happened.

Eddie was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Levi Owen, Jr. and Jesse Mae Price Owen; his wife, Mary Helen Gilmore Owen; his son, Eddie Owen, Jr.; and his brother, Don Owen.

He is survived by his wife, Arlene Owen; his sons, Hamilton Owen and his wife, Julie, and Patrick Owen; his sister, Barbara Mathes; his grandchildren, Cameron Owen, Drew Algate and his wife, Hannah, Jillian Algate, and Lucas Algate; his great-grandson, Christopher; his step son, Michael Corsini; his step grandson Jaxson Corsini and many other beloved family members and dear friends.

Eddie's life was marked by faith, perseverance, devotion, and love. He preached thousands of sermons, but perhaps his greatest messages were the ones he lived. Whether serving in ministry, caring for his family, or sharing Christ with a stranger, he sought to honor the Lord in all he did. His example will continue to inspire all who knew and loved him, and his legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched along the way.

Eddie’s family will receive friends Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 11 am – 1 pm at First Christian Church, 400 South Oak Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830. A celebration of his life will follow at 1 pm at the church.

Interment will be conducted privately at the family cemetery in New Salem, TN.

In lieu of flowers, Eddie’s family requests that donations be made, in his memory, to the Voice of the Martyrs at www.persecution.com. Voice of the Martyrs, P.O. Box 443, Bartlesville, OK 74005-0443.