Hartley Owen

Hartley Owen of Worton, MD, died Friday, July 15, 2011, at University of Maryland Hospital. He was 83. Hartley Owen was born September 5, 1927, the son of the late, George Owen and Lilly Brayton Owen in New Bedford, MA. Mr. Owen enlisted in the United States Navy, before finishing High School, and served as a gunners mate, first class on USS LST 587 in the Pacific. He was Honorably discharged in 1946, and returned to finish high school. He went on to attend Michigan State University, and graduated with high honors in 1952 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He also served as president of Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honorary Fraternity) and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi. He went on to work for Esso Research and Engineering Company for 10 years, and Mobil Research and Development Corporation for 31 years, retiring in 1992. Mr. Owen was a world recognized inventor and expert in the oil industry in refinery process development, fluidized solids, and fluid catalytic cracking He was a prolific inventor and the author and co-author of over 280 U.S. patents dealing primarily with oil refining technology, chemicals and synthetic fuels. He was recognized by Mobil as inventor with the most patents ever assigned to Mobil by one inventor and is one of the leading patent holders in the U.S. Patent office. After retiring, he moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He was known to many as a “gentlemen and a scholar”, with a deep abiding faith, and love of family and country. He was a founding member, elder and trustee of the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church in NJ and a member of the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, MD, where he loved to sing in the choir. Mr. Owen was an avid sailor, and loved to travel, ski and garden. Hartley was preceded in death by his first wife, Belle Wagner Owen in 1991. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Jannette Ann Talbot Owen of Worton, MD; one son, Russell “Russ” Owen of Vienna, VA; five daughters, Diane Kramer of Charlotte, NC, Janice Weaver of Holden, MA, Beth Cunane of Centreville, MD, Jo Ann Bailey of Cinnaminson, NJ, Mari Ann Donnelly of Stevensville, MD; two brothers, Charles J. Owen of Phoenix, AZ, George Edward Owen of Dartmouth, MA; fourteen grandchildren and his two Bernese Mountain dogs, Annie and Nee’ce. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Saturday, July 23, 2011, at 11a.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, MD. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, 130 Speer Rd, Chestertown, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, 905 Gateway Drive, Chestertown, MD 21620.

Hartley Owen

September 5, 1927 - July 15, 2011