Dr. Eugene Owens
Internist opened his East Baltimore practice in 1954 and continued to work there for more than 40 years
Dr. Eugene Herbert Owens Jr., a retired internist who practiced in East Baltimore for more than four decades, died July 12 of complications from Alzheimer’s disease at his Pikesville home. He was 94.
Born in Lawrenceville, Va., he was the son of Eugene H. Owens Sr. and Virginia Broadnax. As a young man, he worked alongside his father, who was a farmer. He wanted to become an auto mechanic, but his mother was determined that he become a doctor.
“His mom knew of the greatness that was in him,” said a daughter, Diana Owens of Pikesville.
He was a graduate of St. Paul’s High School and enrolled at what was then Virginia State College. He completed two years at the school and was drafted into the Navy. He served two years as an aviation machinist. He then completed his education at Virginia State. He applied to three medical schools, the Medical College of Virginia, Howard University’s College of Medicine and Meharry Medical College.
“Because of his race, he was denied entrance to the Medical College of Virginia,” his daughter said. “He brought legal action and in the end he chose to attend Howard University.” He graduated in 1952 and completed two years of residency in general practice at what was then Gallinger Municipal Hospital, also in Washington.
It was there that he met his future wife, Louise Elizabeth Harris, who was a District of Columbia schoolteacher. She brought in an injured child to be treated, and the two struck up an acquaintance. The two were married in 1958.
Dr. Owens moved to Baltimore in 1954 and opened a medical practice in the 1700 block of E. Federal St.
“He picked the east side of Baltimore because he wanted to serve the community of people who needed his services the most,” his daughter said.
“My father treated indigent and paying patients equally,” Ms. Owens said. “He was an anomaly. He made house calls to patients in private homes and in high-rise developments. At times, the elevators were not working, but ‘Doc,’ as he was affectionately known, walked the eight flights of steps to deliver medical care.’”
A 1979 article in the old News American described his waiting room: “[Patients] sit in old chairs, standing, talking, waiting, yawning, just for a few minutes of the doctor’s time. He treats 40 to 50 patients in this cramped two-story rowhouse. … It is a procession of poverty and illness, a river of little tragedies.”
The newspaper article described the neighborhood.
“Owens’ patients are alcoholics, arthritics, junkies, housewives with sore feet, children with rashes that look like scarlet fever, people suffering from stress and anxiety, and those who just want someone to talk to about their problems. … He gets a lot of young addicts who want drugs that have street value … every sort of upper and downer. Although some doctors are soft touches, Owens doesn’t take any guff.”
The article described him as a “friend, father, priest, social worker, policeman, marriage counselor and also a doctor.”
Dr. Owens described himself in the article: “I’m pretty stern. I don’t tolerate any foolishness.”
“My father was extolled for his tenacity, dedication and skill while treating patients from all levels of society.” his daughter said. “He was truly the patients’ doctor. Well after his retirement in 1995, generations of families still remember him fondly for the years of service he provided on East Federal Street.”
Dr. Owens belonged to the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and was a member of the MeDeSo Club, an organization for AfricanAmerican doctors and dentists in Baltimore.
He also belonged to the National Medical Society, the Baltimore City Medical Society, Maryland Medical Society, the Monumental Medical Society, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, where he served on the peer review board.
He was a former member of Douglas Memorial Community Church, where he served on the steward board and the board of Camp Farthest Out. Recently, he was a member of Milford Mill United Methodist Church.
A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 12 at Lochearn Presbyterian Church, 3800 Patterson Ave.
In addition to his daughter, survivors include his wife of 59 years; a son, David Owens of Pikesville; another daughter, Caroline Owens of Upper Marlboro; and two grandchildren. Another son, Eugene Owens III, died in 2010.