Lt. Col (ret) Walter Lee Owen was born on November 6, 1937 to Newell and Lucille Owen in Raton, New Mexico. He spent most of his younger years in Phoenix, Arizona where he graduated from Phoenix Union High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Arizona State University. After college, Walter was commissioned into the United States Air Force where he served for 27 years. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Reese Air Force Base where he earned Distinguished Graduate honors. He was a C133 pilot and served in Vietnam where he flew over 100 combat support sorties. He ended his military career as a C-141 instructor pilot and flight simulator instructor. After his retirement from the military, he continued as a flight simulator trainer for Hughes Technical Services Company and then for America West Airlines. In addition to a life dedicated to his country, he faithfully followed and served God. He taught adult bible study classes for many years at his local church. He is preceded in death by his wife, Carol, and his sister, Della. He is survived by his sister, Barbara Ann Higgins, his children, Walter Lee Owen Jr. (Sheila Singleton-Owen), Warren Lee Owen (Lisa Owen), and Valinda Lee Owen-Fitzgerald (Tony Fitzgerald) and his grandchildren, Delainey Leigh Fitzgerald, Dani Kaye Owen, Patrick Jack Sullivan Fitzgerald, and Wesley Warren William Owen.