Gwendolyn “Carole” (Boone) Owen, age 75, passed away on January 31, 2018 in Virginia Beach, Virginia after a year-long and hard-fought battle with cancer. Carole was born January 5, 1943 to William and Juanita (White) Boone,  grew up in Maysville, KY and relocated to Northern Kentucky where she completed nurses’ training at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Covington. She worked at St. Elizabeth’s as a labor and delivery nurse and then as a scrub nurse in Charleston, SC when her husband, Jim, was stationed there in the Navy. She spent a year in Guam accompanying her husband on his Navy assignment. Afterwards, she lovingly devoted her time and energy to raising her kids, Cheryl and Jimmy, in Edgewood, KY. Carole also assisted Jim in managing Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Erlanger, KY for nearly 30 years.  She was an active member of the Erlanger Christian Church community. Carole and Jim retired to Destin, FL (“paradise” as Carole would describe) in 1998 where Carole loved the beach, and enjoyed playing Canasta weekly, volunteering at Sacred Heart Hospital, spending time socializing with many good friends, and supporting Jim’s artistic endeavors. She frequently traveled to visit her kids and grandkids who she loved generously and unconditionally. She had been living in Virginia Beach, VA for the past year as she underwent treatment for her cancer. Carole is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, James Stetter Owen, her children Cheryl Owen of Kaiserslautern, Germany and Jim Owen, Jr., daughter-in-law Ellen (Ruprecht) Owen, two adored grandchildren, Griffin (12) and Sylvia (9) Owen of Virginia Beach, VA and brother, Bob Boone, sister-in-law, Cheryl Boone and nephew, Jess Boone of Pinehurst, NC. She was preceded in death by her parents and two infant children, George and Sally.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at Erlanger Christian Church, 27 Graves Avenue, Erlanger, KY 41018.  Visitation will be from 10:00-11:30 a.m. followed by a Memorial Service at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow the Service for sharing memories and stories of Carole with family and friends. Carole loved children and hated cancer. She had great appreciation for the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Center. She also loved being a labor and delivery nurse. She often said, “I just loved the babies!” After she lost her own two babies, she became a regular contributor to March of Dimes.  In lieu of flowers, Carole would have liked donations to be made to either of these organizations.  https://www.stjude.org/ or https://www.marchofdimes.org/.