SALTILLO – Bruce Allen Owen, 68, departed this life for the perpetual light of eternity on Friday, November 5, 2021 at his residence. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 8, 1953 to the late William Hugh Owen and Viola Yetter Owen. His family moved south when he was young. Bruce graduated from Tupelo High School and continued his studies at Itawamba Junior College, later earning a Business Management degree from Mississippi State University. He married Donna Poppelreiter at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on February 28, 1976, a marriage of more than 45 years. Always an avid MSU supporter, Bruce spent his working career with Jesco/Cooper Tire in Employee Relations, retiring four years ago. Outside of his love and devotion to his family, Bruce loved God’s creation. He was an avid fisherman in area lakes, streams and rivers and never met a set of woods he didn’t like for hunting deer and other game. He was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Saltillo.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 11:00AM at St. James Catholic Church in Tupelo with Father Henry Shelton and Father Tim Murphy presiding. A burial ceremony will follow at St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery on Barrett Ridge in Saltillo. A public visitation will be from 2PM-4PM on Sunday, November 7th, 2021 at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo Chapel, with a Vigil of the Deceased recitation at 4PM. Survivors include his wife, Donna Poppelreiter Owen of Saltillo; daughters Jessica Owen Austin (Brian Austin), Elizabeth Owen (Tim Kinard) and Laura Owen Logan (Jamey Logan); sister, Susan Hester (Ronnie Hester); brother, William Carl “Bill” Owen (Pam Owen); grandchildren, John Bucy Long, Maggie Austin, Jude Austin, Hollis Kinard, Jasper Austin, Scout Kinard and Willow Logan. He had several nieces, nephews and cousins, and was preceded in death by his parents and his son, William Allen “Will” Owen. Pallbearers will be Bill Owen, Ronnie Hester, Johnny Poppelreiter, Andy Poppelreiter, Tony Poppelreiter, Ronny Buse, Jimmy Hauss and John Bucy Long. Honorary pallbearers will be: Dennis Barrett, Jon Bramlett, Kenny Valentine, Kevin Valentine, Christopher Hester, Simon Poppelreiter, Mark Owen, Brian Shaw, Dwight Shaw, Chris Shaw, and his sons-in-law Brian Austin, Tim Kinard and Jamey Logan.
Memorials may be made to the Will Owen Scholarship Fund, c/o St. James Catholic Church, P. O. Box 734, Tupelo, MS. 38802.
Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.
