Joy Muriel Barbara Mabbutt Owen

JOY MURIEL BARBARA MABBUTT OWEN, 88, of Jacksonville, Ark., widow of William L. ‘Bill' Owen, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. She was born in Bozeat, Northamptonshire, England on May 17, 1926, to the late Ralph Victor and Ivy Swingler Mabbutt. On Feb. 2, 1946, Joy married William L. ‘Bill' Owen, who was stationed in England with the U. S. Army Air Force. Joy came to the United States in 1948. She and Bill were married for almost 47 years, raised six children and moved often as a military family. They settled in Jacksonville in 1971 when Bill retired from the Air Force. Joy was a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, where she sang in the choir. She was also a long time member of the Silver Tea Service Branch of the Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association. Mrs. Owen was preceded in death by her two brothers, Jack and Stanley Mabbutt. She is survived by her six children, Peter Owen, Richard John (Sandra) Owen, Betty Joy (Bill) Thom, Janice (Frank) Lauricella, Buddie (Karen) Owen, Alice Bradford; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and her sister, Pauline (Don) Winter. Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014 at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home (501) 982-2136. Funeral services will be held on Monday, Oct. 20, 2014 at 10 a.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. Burial will follow the service at Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Jacksonville. Please sign the online guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.