On Tuesday the world lost the presence of one of its most important citizens.  Ernest E. (“Ernie”) Owen stepped onto the streets of gold and Heaven gained the presence of one of its most important examples of the personification of grace.  There is certainly great rejoicing on those golden streets today and they are shouting that “Ernie has come home!” 

I first met Ernie in 1980 through our professional relationships – he was a senior editor at Word Publishing in Waco, Texas and I was an attorney representing one of his favorite people, author and pastor Chuck Swindoll.  Ernie told me on more than one occasion that he considered Chuck to be “his pastor.”  The three of us had a wonderful working relationship for many years through Chuck’s publishing with Ernie and Word. 

Ernie never met a man or a woman that he did not treat like his best friend.  Many would say behind Ernie’s back that he must be a phony person because no one could be that nice and that loving.  I knew Ernie Owen pretty well, not as well as some, but better than most.  I can tell you that there was nothing “phony” about Ernie Owen, even though it was very hard to believe that anyone could be as “good” as Ernie was.  His goodness was very real. 

Ernie was always a man of his word, and a man of peace, joy and kindness.  I learned more about how to treat a woman from Ernie than I learned from anyone before or since.  He was grace personified in every relationship he had on this earth. 

Ernie was always ready to do for you, or anyone else who crossed his path, anything he could do to brighten your day and help you accomplish whatever you wanted to accomplish.  I never had a cross word with Ernie Owen in all the years that I worked with him professionally, through the many, many publishing contracts we negotiated together.  He was a loyal and extremely competent employee.  He was an incredible man.

It was always a joy when my secretary would tell me that Ernie Owen was on the phone and wanted to talk with me, no matter how difficult the conversation, or the contract to be negotiated.  If ever there was a man whom I had privilege to know and work with that I thought exemplified Jesus, it was my friend, Ernest E. Owen.  I have missed him so much since he and Pauline retired and moved to that retirement home they loved down in San Diego and we no longer did business together.  I did have the joy of driving down to play golf with him from time to time and we shared a meal or other fellowship now and then.  The world certainly seems a place that is much the lesser now that Ernie has gone on to accept the rewards he earned as an ambassador for Christ. 

I love you, Ernie.  I wish I had been able to say goodbye.  But, I look forward to having you greet me when the day comes for us to sit down and catch up again in that house that Jesus prepared for you and that you will use to be that personification of grace throughout eternity. 

Because some who read this blog post may want to also honor Ernie in a tangible way, the family has offered these two options:

Mt. Miguel Covenant Village Benevolence Fund

c/o Luverne Sands

Mt. Miguel Covenant Village

325 Kempton St.

Spring Valley, CA  91977

In Honor of Ernest E. Owen

or

Scripps Health Foundation

10666 North Torrey Pines Road 109N

La Jolla, CA 92037

In memory of Ernest E. Owen for the benefit of the cardiology research at Scripps Clinic

(Donations cards will be sent to the attention of Pauline Owen)

Notes of encouragement can be sent to Ernie’s wonderful widow, Pauline Owen, at:

325 Kempton St., # 1004

Spring Valley, CA  91977