Patricia Jean (Mendenhall) Owens

Patricia Jean (Mendenhall) Owens passed gently into the arms of her Savior, Jesus, on Wednesday morning, April 12, 2023. Patty was born June 26, 1936, to Forest and Thelma (Cox) Mendenhall in Zanesville, and was a graduate of South Zanesville High School, class of 1954. She met her husband Harvey “Red” Owens on a double date with her sister Esther at Nicol’s Restaurant in Putnam. They were married in 1957, and joyfully lived their lives together until Red passed in 2015. 

Though Patty held jobs through the years as necessity dictated, she was primarily a homemaker and full time mother. She loved her family fiercely. In her eyes, her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids were all brilliant and gifted, and they married brilliant and gifted people. She also delighted in mothering and grandmothering other family and friends through the years.

Patty was a lifelong member of the Church of the Nazarene and served faithfully for as long as she was able: singing in the choir, participating in committees and planning events, coaching Bible quizzing, and serving as a church treasurer. She was a generous hostess and loved entertaining and playing games with friends and family. She had an infectious and uncontrollable laugh, and she loved to give gifts and force sweets on the people who visited her. Patty and Red also loved to travel, relishing Sunday drives to new places, as well as longer road trips across the US, and international travel to Canada, Mexico, Jordan, Israel, and Senegal.

Patty battled physical limitations and health struggles her entire life, but she stubbornly persevered. Once hospitality and travel were more difficult for her, she would keep up with beloved family and friends on the phone, watch OSU football and basketball and Guardians baseball whenever they were on TV, and avidly read novels. In recent years, her daughter Crystal Owens Tuel became her caretaker and lifeline, her best friend.

Patricia is preceded in death by her husband, Harvey “Red” Owens; her daughter, Crystal Owens Tuel; her parents, Forest and Thelma (Cox) Mendenhall; her siblings: Robert (Shirley) Mendenhall, Ralph (Betty Ann) Mendenhall, and Esther (Jack) Andrews.

She is survived by her son, Randall (Judith) Owens; brother, Forest “Woody” (Gwen) Mendenhall; son-in-law, Mark Tuel; grandchildren: Forest “Nate” (Hope) Owens, and Jamie (Ryan) Wright; and great-grandchildren: Forest Owens, Peter Owens, Tobias Wright, and Huckleberry Wright; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, especially Angie Grandstaff, Tara Koett, and Hans Mendenhall.

A viewing for friends and family will be held from 4-8 pm Sunday April 16, 2023, at THE SNOUFFER FUNERAL HOME, 1150 WEST MILITARY ROAD, ZANESVILLE. The funeral will begin at 11 am on Monday April 17, 2023, in the Snouffer Chapel. Burial will follow in Wesley Union Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at 

ncm.org/memorial

To send a note of condolence to the family visit www.snoufferfuneralhome.com, find us on facebook, or call our locally owned caring staff at 740-450-8000.

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