Barbara Knighten Owens, 87, of Orange, Virginia passed away at home October 17, with her children and husband at her side.

Barbara was born October 30, 1934 in Asheville, NC to Gordon and Mildred Knighten. A graduate of Mars Hill College, she married her first and only love, Carl E Owens, Jr in 1957 and moved to Virginia to begin a family and a new life of dairy farming.

Over the following years, Barbara attended Coast Guard seamanship courses with her husband and many of her happiest times were spent in Hatteras, NC, fishing in the Gulf Stream with Carl and enjoying beach time with her children and grandchildren.

A woman of uncommon warmth, grace and energy, she was a beacon in her Christian community and a source of strength and wisdom for everyone who knew her.

Barbara is survived by her husband and three children, Cid, Becky, and Wyn Owens, ten grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren, and her brothers Johnny and Bill and sister Joy Clift.