Richard was born June 17, 1941 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Earl Henry Owen and Norma Christensen. He graduated from East High School in Salt Lake City. He had one sister, Kathleen (Kathie) Peterson, who married Richard’s best friend Arthur. At age 15, he became the Utah state chess champion. At chess camp, he roomed with Bobby Fischer—the eventual World Chess Champion.

He attended the University of Utah, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. He later enlisted in the U.S. Navy, joining as a lieutenant in serving in Vietnam where he was a pilot and flew fly T34, T2V, F9F, and F4 Phantom aircraft as well as being an intel planning specialist and an intelligence specialist.

The Navy awarded him with the:

*Combat Action Ribbon

*National Defense Service Medal and Ribbon

*Vietnam Service Medal and Ribbon

*Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Ribbon

While in the Navy, visiting San Diego, he met Sydney Kent, who had a degree from Brigham Young University in elementary education and was working as a school teacher.

On Jan. 13, 1968, they were married in the Los Angeles Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their first child, Natalie (Alie), was born while Richard was serving in Vietnam. He did not meet her until she was several months old, after he was honorably discharged.

After Richard’s return home, the family moved to Brentwood, California, where he attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and graduated close to the top of his class with an MBA. Richard had a brilliant mind and loved learning. He enjoyed memorizing new words from the dictionary and even typing his math homework.

After graduation, the family moved to Palo Alto, California, where Richard worked for IBM. While there, their son David joined the family. Richard and Sydney later started a food storage company called Ready Reserve. They later moved to Diamond Bar, California, where Richard worked as computer controller of Surfer Publications.

After an early retirement, due to his health, Richard moved to Bakersfield, California, where he lived from 1986 to 2024. When he needed a higher level of care, he moved to Los Angeles, where he spent the final chapter of his life.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his younger sister, Kathie Peterson; and his former wife, Sydney. Even after their marriage ended, she faithfully visited him, taking him to lunch and haircuts, and offering him friendship and care until her passing.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Alie (Royle) Schmidt, and his son, David (Jeni) Owen; grandchildren Christopher Ward; Becca (Caleb) Wood; Aubrie (Caleb) Crandall; Ellie, Teyah, Kyler and Sawyer Owen; and great-grandson Cooper Wood.

Richard will be laid to rest with military honors at the Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale, Utah on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 10am.