Bill Flores: “Today I rise to honor J.B. Owen, Jr., of Woodway, Texas, who passed away on March 5, 2017. J.B. was born in Mathis…”

“Today I rise to honor J.B. Owen, Jr., of Woodway, Texas, who passed away on March 5, 2017. J.B. was born in Mathis, Texas, on November 19, 1928. He attended grade school in this small community with just three other students. Upon graduation from Mathis High School, J.B. went to Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, where he would go on to earn a bachelor of business administration in general business. He began his career by teaching business classes in Dilley, Texas, before a diagnosis of tuberculosis landed him in the hospital for 15 months. Thankfully, J.B. made a full recovery and set out to become an insurance agent with Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Company. J.B. was an exemplary leader at Farm Bureau for 41 years before his retirement in 1992. In 1965, J.B. married Lillian Holley Rector, known as Lil, a Georgia peach he met on a blind date with the help of a coworker. In their 50- plus years of marriage, Lil and J.B. raised three children--Richard, Holley, and J.B. III. They were blessed with nine grandchildren, including triplets, who were born in 2001. Along with being loving grandparents, J.B. and Lil enjoyed traveling, both in Texas and beyond. J.B. is recognized as an exemplary steward for the greater Waco community. He was an active volunteer and community member, serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Community Development Board. He also served as an elder at Highland Baptist Church and taught Sunday school for 35 years. J.B.…”