Henry Iv

Born in Freeport, New York on September 29, 1958 Departed on July 24, 2016 and resided in Gallatin, Tennessee Life Celebration: Crestview Funeral Home Room: Stateroom ATuesday August 2, 2016 10:00am to 11:00amInterment: Crestview Memory GardensTuesday August 2, 2016 11:00am to 11:30am

Henry Robert Owen, IV - Age 57, of Gallatin, passed away July 24, 2016.

Henry Robert Owen, IV was born on September 29, 1958 in Freeport, NY the third child of Henry Robert Owen, III of New York, NY, and Muriel Jean Armstrong of Arnprior, Ontario Canada. He was a devoted brother to Barbara Lynn and Elisabeth Jane.

He spent most of his childhood years growing up in Hingham, MA and then Plymouth, MI. Downhill skiing was his favorite outdoor sport. He earned his B.Sc. degree in Biology from the College of William and Mary in 1982, and both his M.Sc. in Horticulture in 1984, and his Ph.D. in Genetics in 1987 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Throughout his professional life, Henry's teaching and research interests focused on cell and tissue culture techniques for plant propagation, regeneration and genetic improvement. Later in his career, his interests and expertise also included the study of endangered and exotic plant species. After earning his doctoral degree, Henry spent a year as a visiting scientist for Agriculture Canada in Fredericton, New Brunswick investigating factors that somatic embryogenesis in potato cultivars for use in synthetic seed technologies. Then from 1988-1990, he managed the tissue culture collection and research program on preservation of plant materials of the American Type-Culture Collection in Maryland. Funded in part by Ohio State University and the Smuckers Company, Henry then researched how to genetically improve strawberry plants using tissue culture techniques from 1990-1994.

Henry joined the faculty of Eastern Illinois University as an Assistant
Professor of Botany in 1994. He retired from EIU as Professor Emeritus of Botany in 2014. During his tenure at EIU, Henry taught 15 different courses ranging from general biology, botany, plants and civilization, plant physiology for natural science teachers, plant cell and tissue culture, plant genetics and an honors course on the world of plants.

In addition, while at Eastern Illinois University, Henry co-established the university's Threatened and Endangered Plant Species Research Program. As part of this program, Henry and several students worked on cloning the dying 300 year-old bur oak tree on campus. He served as national president of the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society. His achievements here included developing a national website, and creating a Student Travel Grant program enabling students to present their research at professional meetings.
Henry earned the EIU Faculty Achievement and Contribution Award covering teaching, research, and service. His achievements included a long list of articles, textbook chapters, and conference papers published, and awards and grants earned. However, Henry was most motivated by and proud of his role as a teacher and mentor. His classes were often characterized as tough, but as one student put it, "If you want to learn, he is the perfect guy."
Aside from his more obvious hobby of vegetable gardening, Henry enjoyed reading true crime novels, collecting boxes of all shapes and styles, refinishing furniture and collecting coins.

You did not have to know Henry long to know he had a life-long passion for rescuing and surrounding himself with dogs, especially the smaller breeds. He may have been tough in the classroom, but that was certainly not his approach when it came to interacting with the four-legged members of the family. When he volunteered at an animal shelter, we knew his family would increase in size.

He was often soft-spoken, but he did not hesitate to stand his ground for his often-liberal views or in support of a range of causes. You could always count on Henry to come up with the most unique and well thought out gift for someone's birthday. He did not smile often enough, but when he did, you were so glad you had seen it.
He made the decision to retire early to move to TN to be close to his family, to which he was devoted, often leaving everyone laughing at his enviable quick wit. He enjoyed his new freedom, setting up his newly built home, planting his gardens, relaxing on his porch with his dogs and exploring Gallatin, TN.

Preceded in death by his parents, Muriel Jean Armstrong Owen & Henry Robert Owen, III. Survived by his beloved pets, Audeo, Flora, Heather, Hazel & Phyto; siblings, Barbara Perkins (Craig), Elisabeth DeWitt (Scott); niece, Jane Normansell (David); nephew, Ben DeWitt.

In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to Humane Society of Sumner County, 16 Volunteer Dr., Hendersonville, TN, 37075 or www.sumnerhumane.org/

A Life Celebration will be held 10:00am - 11:00am, Tuesday, August 2, at Crestview Funeral Home with burial to follow at Crestview Memory Gardens.