Richard Chapman Owens, Jr.

Richard Chapman Owens, Jr., age 68, passed away in Athens, Georgia, on October 19, 2025. He was born in Ocilla, Georgia, on December 16, 1956, to the late Martha Fuller Owens and Richard Chapman Owens, Sr., and was preceded in death by his brother, James Andrew Owens, Sr.; and sister, Frances Gary Owens.

Richard attended the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and graduated from Irwin County High School as valedictorian of the class of 1975. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where, on April 19, 1979, he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, an honor society that recognizes and promotes excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. After graduating from the George Washington School of Law in the District of Columbia, he embarked upon a distinguished legal career in intellectual property, trademarks, and copyright law. This career took him from the Federal Communications Commission in D.C. to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland, where he worked for 20 years and attained Ambassadorial rank. He traveled the world as he negotiated treaties for the protection of indigenous cultures. He returned to Georgia upon his retirement in 2006.

An accomplished pianist, he was invited to play at the Kennedy Center. He shared his talents with family and friends at events, holidays, weddings, and funerals. He was an enthusiastic and generous supporter of musical programs at Spivey Hall and the University of Georgia’s Performing Arts Center, served on the board of the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, and sponsored the Museum’s biennial Elegant Salute gala fundraiser.

Richard shared his infectious enthusiasm for all the arts, from classical music to oil paintings, and was an avid reader and student of history. He had a quick and rapier-sharp wit, which made him excellent company and a prized dinner guest. And he was generous to a fault, bestowing lavish gifts upon his friends at holidays and sometimes for no reason at all, other than that it was within his power to do so and would make the recipient happy.

A member of the Ocilla Methodist Church, he performed a piano concert there in memory of his maternal grandparents, A. T. and Frances Fuller, in 1999

Richard is survived by a nephew, James Andrew Owens, Jr.; first cousins, Andrew Thomas Taylor, Carol Taylor Southerland, Jaima McInnis, Heather Turgeon, Betsy McCrary, and Jim McIntosh; members of his extended family, and a large number of friends on several continents.

Richard’s family and friends invite you to remember him at the services below:

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 24, at Ocilla Methodist Church in Ocilla, Georgia.

A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, January 22, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia.

A Requiem Mass will be held at 12 noon on Friday, January 30, at St Mark’s Regent Park in London.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, Athens, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com