OwenO’Hagan
Owen O’Hagan, born November 3, 1941, died following a short illness on February 9 in Perth Royal Infirmary aged 76.
Owen enlisted in the Royal Air Force in May 1971 at the age of 29 and retired as Flight Sergeant in 1997 after 26 years of exemplary service throughout the UK and overseas in the Netherlands and Italy.
During his final tour he served as Chief Clerk at Strike Command, RAF High Wycombe, with responsibilities for the personnel administration of almost 2000 servicemen and women of all ranks, mentoring and counselling them on career and personal matters.
Owen loved his life in the Air Force, in particular the camaraderie, travel and the opportunity to educate himself, something he could not be afforded in his youth as the eldest son in a family of nine children.
On leaving, he successfully transferred his skills to civilian life when appointed as Trust Administrator of Brave Hearts Children’s Trust, a Scottish charity dedicated to fulfilling the dreams and wishes of terminally ill, sick and disabled children based in Perth.
For 15 years Owen single-handedly co-ordinated fundraising efforts across Scotland and delivered wishes to those most needy, spending the funds in the areas in which they were raised on such things as laptops and iPads for those with special educational needs, adapted tricycles, and several group visits to Disneyland.
This was far more than a job to Owen and he donated his own time, energy and resources to this wonderful cause.
A lifelong Glasgow Celtic supporter Owen was a regular at the exservicemen’s club in Perth.
Owen died with his family around him. He is survived by his wife Mary, his daughter Sara and sons Owen and Sean.
A service of remembrance will be held at St Matthew’s Church on Friday, February 16, at 4pm.