Sara E. Owen


Published 4:20 pm Monday, June 29, 2020

WAKEFIELD – Sara Elizabeth “Betty” Cantrell Owen, 83, of Wakefield, died on June 29, 2020, at Riverside Center in Smithfield.

Sara E. Owen

Born at Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, on Oct. 20, 1936, she was a daughter of the late Wilburn and Margaret Cantrell of Boydton, Virginia.

Betty attended Longwood College and was a member of Wakefield Baptist Church for over 50 years where she taught the Women’s Sunday School for most of that time.

She also taught first and fourth grades at Wakefield Elementary School, Tidewater Academy and served on the Walter Cecil Rawls Library Board of Directors in Courtland for many years.
Along with her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved husband of 60 years, Robbie F. Owen, and a sister, Patricia Cantrell Taylor.

Betty was an avid reader, inspired teacher and artist, wonderful homemaker, dangerous Slapjack player with her grandchildren, inquisitive world traveler and great conversationalist. She was a loving and devoted wife and cherished mother, mother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Loving survivors include sons, David T. Owen (Lisa) and Stephen F. Owen (Shelby); grandchildren Ashley Brock (Graham) and Erin Seward (Brandon), Graham Owen (Nathalie), Emily Owen (Steven) and Samuel Owen; great-grandchildren, Owen and Brycen Brock, Camden and Grayson Seward, Timothy Addington and Elliot and Luke Owen; brother, William T. Cantrell of Midlothian; sister, Mary Alice Cafazza of Amelia; and numerous nieces and nephews. 
The family will have a private service at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wakefield Baptist Church, P.O. Box 567, Wakefield, VA 23888.

R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, Wakefield Chapel is assisting the family.

Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.