Barbara Lynette (Short) Owen – devoted wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and musician – entered her eternal rest on November 9, 2024, at age 78 at her home in Charlestown. She was surrounded by her family: husband Dennis, daughter Kimberly, and son Matthew.

Barbara was born on September 22, 1946, in Oakland, CA to Madison Short and Yvonne Manning. The family, which now included her younger brother Kenneth, lived in Oakland and Walnut Creek before moving to Hayward, CA when she was 10. She graduated from Sunset High School in Hayward in 1964, where she met her future husband Dennis Edward Owen. Barbara graduated from Holy Names University in Oakland with a Bachelor of Arts in Music.

Barbara and Dennis were married on June 3, 1972, at St. Clement’s Catholic Church in Hayward, and the couple celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary this year. They made a life together in Hayward until relocating to Idaho Falls, ID in 1977 – where they welcomed their daughter Kimberly Diane in 1980. In 1983 they moved to Hummelstown, PA where their son Matthew Edward was born in 1988. In Hummelstown they were members of Trinity United Methodist Church. In retirement, Barbara and Dennis moved to Boston (Charlestown) to be close to their children and grandchildren.

Barbara’s lifelong career as a musician and as a violin and viola teacher began when she was introduced to the violin in the 4th grade. She performed in her high school and college orchestras, several Bay Area honor orchestras, and as a liturgical musician for the Diocese of Oakland. With each family move she joined the local music community, playing with the Idaho Falls Symphony Orchestra, Pocatello Symphony Orchestra, Hershey Symphony Orchestra, and Cambridge Symphony Orchestra.

Barbara’s greatest musical contribution was as a teacher. She was trained in the Suzuki Method and developed her own unique blend of Suzuki and traditional instruction. Her musical impact lives in the hundreds of young musicians she taught across California, Idaho, and Pennsylvania. Many of her former students, now adults, carry her music and life teachings with them today.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and brother Ken. Remaining to cherish her memory are her husband Dennis, daughter Kimberly Mikesh, son-in-law Daniel Mikesh, and grandsons Dylan (10) and Tyler (8) of Somerville, MA, son Matthew Owen of Worcester, MA, cousin Georgia Kellers of Sacramento, CA, sister-in-law Gwyn Short and niece Allyson Short, both of Savannah, GA.

She embraced her short battle with cancer with grace, seeing it as an opportunity to say a proper, heartfelt goodbye to family and friends. She died holding her husband’s hand, just as she wished. Godspeed, Barbara Lynette Owen.

The family will hold a celebration of her life in the future. Her husband Dennis can be reached at deowenpa@gmail.com.

Two causes that were dear to Barbara are:

Hershey Symphony Orchestra (www.hersheysymphony.org)

National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org)

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory to these organizations or to a cause of your choice.

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