GALION: Clara Ruth Owens, age 80, passed away on April 2, 2025 with her loving family by her side. Clara’s legacy is one of devotion to all the best things life has to offer: showing kindness for others, finding joy in the beauty of simple comforts, and unconditional love for her family and friends.
Clara was born in Barrett, West Virginia on May 30, 1944 to Floyd and Alma Phillips in their family home. She was one of ten siblings. She graduated from Van High School before moving to Washington, D.C. where she worked as a secretary for the United States Department of Agriculture. While living in the capitol, she met a sharp young man named Thomas. The pair quickly fell in love and on February 1, 1964 they became husband and wife. Together they raised four daughters whom they loved dearly. In 1984, they relocated to Ohio where Tom had secured a job at General Motors.
Hardworking, determined, and ever-charitable, Clara loved to help cultivate growth and help others flourish, whether tending to her garden or doting on her family. When Tom worked long hours, she was often found underneath the family car changing the oil, or keeping the house tidy for her family. She loved the outdoors, and spent as much time in her garden as possible, always barefoot. She grew flowers and prolific crops of vegetables and always canned her lovingly-grown produce to nourish her family. Clara was a talented cook; she loved hosting family meals and treating loved ones to special dishes. When her daughters were in school, she would often cook them meals after school if there was nothing that appealed to them in the kitchen.
When not tending to her family, she enjoyed playing bingo and spending nights at the casino. She collected Barbie dolls, always taking them out of the box but keeping them safe in glass curio cabinets. A devoted and active grandparent, she loved her grandchildren; she always attended their games and concerts to cheer them on from the stands. She was skilled at crochet, using her talent to create meticulously-crafted blankets, hats, and washcloths for her family, many of whom continue to use the pieces she made for them every day. She would bring her smaller creations to the bingo hall, handing them out to her friends as tokens of affection.
A true one-of-a-kind, Clara’s abounding love graced every person in her life with generosity and support. Just as her husband and children meant everything to her, she meant everything to them. Tenderhearted and spirited, and so very unique, Clara leaves behind her plentiful joy, zeal, and adoration.
She is survived by her daughters Barbie (Ken) Grix, Missy Moore (Doug Elgin), and Jenny Stinehour (Kevin Mosier); sisters Evelyn Kinder and Lucille Kitchen; grandchildren Ian (Ashlie) Stinehour, Ashley (Nick) Justyn, Craig (Alexus) Bricker, Dylan (Shelby) Spencer, Tiffany Evans, Kyle Evans, and Tim Grix (Kelsey Shankle); great-grandchildren Athena, Benson, Banks, Benjamin, and Stiles; best friend Barb “Granny” Day; and many more beloved friends, nieces, and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Thomas Owens; parents Floyd and Alma Phillips; seven of her siblings; daughter S. Michelle Evans; and grandson Chad Grix.
Clara’s family will be holding private services, but they ask that everyone touched by Clara’s love spend time celebrating her life in their own way.
Snyder Funeral Homes Richardson-Davis Chapel is honored to oversee Clara’s arrangements and care for her family during this time.
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Homes, Richardson-Davis Chapel
Website: snyderfuneralhomes.com