WILLIAM OWEN LYON JR.

left this Earthly life on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, with his devoted wife, Mary Henslee (Sissy) Lyon, of 67 years at his side. Owen was born July 30, 1928, in Little Rock to Owen Sr. and Hazel Bordeaux Lyon. He graduated from Little Rock High (now Central High) in 1946 and matriculated at Princeton University, where he received his degree in English in 1950.

He enlisted in the Navy in September of that year and was sent to Japan to serve on an aircraft carrier in the far east during the Korean War. Upon discovery of his college degree, his superiors sent him to officer candidate school. Owen served the remainder of his time onboard the USS Rendova as Assistant Navigator during a time when navigation was celestial, not mechanical. Notably, while serving aboard Rendova, he was present for the first hydrogen bomb test at Enewetak Atoll.

Once back in Little Rock, he worked for Metropolitan Trust Company briefly and was appointed by the City Board to the Little Rock Planning Commission, where he served for nine years. Owen also served for many years on the Board of the Arkansas Symphony, during which time he oversaw acoustical upgrades to Robinson Auditorium in preparation for the ASO to make the auditorium its new permanent home. He was also a member of the Optimist Club and Board member of Presbyterian Village.

Owen was also a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church, where he held many church offices through the years. But he took most pride in his assignment at the Stew Pot, which provides free lunches to those in need. He said in his later years some of his closest friends came from among his fellow workers in this service.

For his entire adult life, Owen was a member of the Country Club of Little Rock, where he served for several years as a Board member. In this, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Gus Lyon, who was founding Treasurer of the Club.

Lastly, it would be remiss not to mention his profound affinity for horse racing and the art and science of “forming” the horses, the excitement of finding a winner, and the joy of hitting a trifecta. Many a happy Friday was spent in a box at Oaklawn Park with family and friends wagering, watching, and wishing! As teenagers, his children were likely the only ones among their peers who knew how to “form” the horses.

William Owen Lyon, Jr., is survived by his wife, Sissy, their children, William Owen Lyon, III, (Rene’), Mary Lyon, and Porter Henslee Lyon (Will Sexton), granddaughter Eleanor Lyon Cox (Brad) and their three children, grandson William Owen Lyon, IV (Cassandra) and their two children, and granddaughter, Katherine Lyon Fisher (Matt) and their four children.

Memorial service will be at Ruebel Funeral Home on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m., preceded by visitation at 1 p.m., also at Ruebel. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Little Rock or charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com