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Walter L Dowdle posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
My younger son, John, when he heard recently about "Doggie" (the name all his KA Brothers at Mississippi State knew him by) emailed "It will be a great regret of mine that I never got to meet Doggie in person. Definitely my favorite friend of yours that I never met. That is the best obituary I have ever read. Brought a tear to my eye, but a great smile to my face and laughter as well. As it should be." John later asked if Doggie had written the obituary--which was a good question. Some of us Brothers wondered whether if at the Service Doggie would pop up out of the coffin, laughing saying. "I fooled y'all again!"
Probably as with me, getting to know him would start with a story of some kind sworn to be the truth, laughing so hard as he told it, you couldn't help but fall out laughing yourself--it wasn't the story so much but Doggie--the way he told it and laughed every time (this got me into a little trouble with our KA Rose back then, because whenever she was with me and we'd see Doggie, just anticipating some other story or tale, I couldn't help but smile and start laughing--she thought we had some kind of inside joke, but Doggie just made me laugh and be happy). I'm sure most of you have heard his stories about the crazy cat in the living room, his Dad's pet pig, "Castro", the Mississippi State Troopers' speed trap, the time he was dared to run a play in a football game with his helmet on backwards, how Jimbo Lane twirled him around by a horse collar just before he almost scored a TD, when on the third leg of a 440 relay he didn't make the turn but ran straight out of the stadium, the tree branch in the landing gear upon returning to the Starkville airport, turning off his navigation lights after buzzing the House so he wouldn't get caught on radar, etc. etc. Unless you were at State, though, you may not have heard about Doggie giving a Brother a ride back to the House from Columbus MS late one night--it's a classic. If Robert Seitz hasn't heard it, I'd love to tell it to him if he'd tell me the ATL simulator story.
Doggie's main reputation around the KA House originated from the third floor. From up there, beforehand as was his plan, he'd fill a 55-gallon trash can with water and later go out and wait for some snazzily-dressed BMOC to walk out the front door and down the steps directly under the deck that extended out from the third floor windows where he was positioned. At that point, with just the right timing, he'd dump the whole 55 gallons on the unsuspecting and careless soul. That much water will bring a man to his knees on a direct hit--and Doggie had plenty direct hits--once he got the same Brother twice in the same evening. The thing is, he never got caught (but he was always blamed)--although once after running up there to let him have it ("kill" him), one Brother found him "asleep" in his bed breathing like he'd just finished running a 440 yard dash. He was so proud of not being caught--living in Texas now, it reminds me of L.A. Freeway (with apologies to Guy Clark)--"Doggie got off the 3rd floor roof without ever getting killed or caught."
Jim Molbreak, Bill Schutzler and A.G. Hayes described Doggie and my feelings about him as well as I ever could--they're the same. Laughter. Stories. All the platitudes are understatements. One of a kind. Family. Brothers. We loved Buddy "Doggie" Owen. Whenever he'd call me he'd say, "Walt, my man, my man, my main man!" Doggie was the Main Man and with Jim Molbreak, and as the obituary says, I believe that Captain Buddy received those Wings he had so long sought and that Hallelujah, by and by we'll meet again!
Walter L. Dowdle
KA, Beta Tau '64
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A.G. Hayes posted a condolence
Saturday, July 31, 2021
I worked and flew with Buddy. His smile and laughter won over everyone who met him. Glad I got to know him, feel sorrow for the family but live in hope that there may yet be a few other truly unique persons (like Buddy) roaming the earth some where.
Condolences.
A.G. Hayes
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Bill Schutzler lit a candle
Thursday, July 29, 2021
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Buddy was the most wonderful person and I cherish every moment that we spent around him, at social and work. He always had people around him and hanging on every word. He never embellished any of his stories, he didn't have to they were just one of his life events. I still tell some of his stories and I get through with one and it reminds me of another one.
I tried several times to make a trip down to see him with some of the other guys from the airline group but it never worked out.
When I heard the news yesterday it sure took the wind out of my sails and created a big void which will be with me the rest of my life.
I know so many people that had so much love for Buddy and their empty spot will be the same as mine we will always miss him. He was way too young to have God snatch him away from us.
I know his family were so fortunate to have him close by them for all these years and it will be difficult adjusting to the void..
With a heavy heart.
Bill Schutzler North Central, Republic and Northwest
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Walter L Dowdle uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, July 29, 2021
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All in fun by his Mississippi State KA Brothers:
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James Molbreak posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
I checked out Buddy’s Facebook page and found that he’d started a new job on June 1, 1970, so that’s a pretty good place to start. June 1, 1970 was a Monday, but that Sunday afternoon,
May 31st, I walked into my assigned room at the Airliner Motel in Mendota Heights, MN and met the other fellow also assigned to the room. There, lying in the bed, was Charles J. Owen, and that afternoon began a story filled with, well,…lots of things that we won’t get into here, but if limited to one word, that word would be laughter. We went through training together, went to our first assignment at DTW together, lived together, consumed together, and laughed together. Me at Buddy’s stories, and Buddy, right along with himself as part of the story.
There is no reason that I should know his brothers David, and Leslie, except that they were a part of so many stories. There is no reason I should know that Buddy’s mother like to converse on long car rides, except it was a part of many stories, and there is no reason that I can remember so many of the details of his youth with his family, except that they were a part of the story and family was important to him and had a profound impact on him.
I spoke with Austin yesterday…had a long conversation with him and made the comment that Buddy didn’t tell jokes, he told stories. They were good stories, funny stories, and I am sure they were embellished, but nobody cared. They were funny;.. they made us laugh.
He told the story about David and Leslie arguing about the proper pronunciation of a Mississippi town, going back and forth till they got to a fast food place, and Leslie goes in and speaks to one of the employees. He says: “I want you to tell me where we are right now” hoping to get the local pronunciation. Finally, after some coaxing, the employee says: “Dairy Queen.”
Then there was the story about some farmer coming over a hill in rural Mississippi in his truck and running into a flock of Guinea Chickens. I don’t even remember the punch line, but about halfway through, Buddy is imitating a Guinea Chicken trying to fly backwards to avoid the truck and laughing that robust, hearty, genuine laugh you all remember. By this time you are laughing so hard, the rest of the story doesn’t matter.
But the story of all stories, was the incident with Buddy a DC-9 instructor pilot, giving a check ride in the ATL simulator to two (formerly) Southern Airways pilots. You see North Central purchased Southern in the late 70’s and Buddy was an instant hit in bridging the gap in the two cultures. Well, as the story goes, the students messed things up one-after-another during the course of a non-routine engine start, to the point that Buddy finally called a halt to the proceedings and gave them a “do-over.” Well, he gave them the same problem (generator) and they messed it up again. After brief discussion, one of the two pilots turned to Buddy and confessed: “Well, Buddy, we didn’t think you were gonna give us the same thing again.” There is only one person who can do this wonderful story justice, and that is Robert Seitz. Ask him if you see him.
All the platitudes,
They broke the mold
One of a kind
Unique individual
…..they are understatement in the case of Charles J. Owen. I loved being around him, loved the stories, and didn’t even mind when I’d walk into a crew room in the early days of DTW and he’d have a bunch of pilots around in a circle, telling a story, they looked like a football team in a huddle, heads bobbing up and down, everyone laughing. The thing is, something that Buddy had done, …he would substitute your name for his and embellish the story and have great sport….at someone else’s expense. It was all part of the game, but never with malice.
Austin said his dad was his best friend. That’s a difficult line to cross, being a father, and a friend at the same time. Buddy did it, and I’m sure with brother Justin as well. Based on the only other post on his Facebook page, a video of a boy singing a Christian song (Open the eyes of my Heart Lord) I’m certain that Buddy did some business with God in his later years and now will spend eternity in Heaven.
Partner, you left us too soon, but we’ll meet again. Till then, may God rest your soul, and your memory be a blessing to all who loved you!
Jim Molbreak
Northwest Airlines
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Walter L Dowdle Posted Jul 29, 2021 at 3:16 PM
Jim--I wish I could meet you and could talk with you and hear more, as we KA brothers called him, "Doggie" stories. He was still telling "new" ones to me when we talked by phone not long ago. There will never ever be another Buddy "Doggie" Owen, but as you say, we'll meet him again on the other side. Walter Dowdle, Beta Tau KA '64
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The family of Buddy Owen uploaded a photo
Monday, July 26, 2021
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