February 2020
Owen Autry, 1930-2019
The story of Owen and Vivian Autry’s decision to join FMCA is short but sweet. The couple, who owned four Baskin-Robbins stores, learned about the RV organization from fellow ice-cream store owners.
“They told us about the good times they had at rallies, and the good fellowship that everybody enjoyed,” Vivian said from her Elk Grove, California, home.
Soon after the Autrys became members in 1983, Owen began serving in various capacities in the Western Area. In 1996 he was elected national vice president, Western Area, a post he held until 1999. He also served on the Membership/Member Services Committee from 1996 to 1999 and on the Convention Committee in 1996.
Owen died November 6, 2019. He was 89.
“He was quiet, but a strong leader,” said June Davis, who was FMCA national secretary from 2000 to 2003. She and her husband, Leonard, became good friends with the Autrys and spent several Christmases with them.
“Our introduction to the Executive Board was by Owen,” June said. “He was very encouraging and helpful. He and Vivian both.”
“He loved FMCA, and never hesitated to question me on decisions made and never hesitated to give me his opinion,” said Allen Rein, former FMCA national senior vice president (2011-2013) and former national vice president, Rocky Mountain Area (2007-2011). “He was a fine gentleman and played a mean game of Mexican Train,” a dominoes game.
Owen and Vivian grew up in Linden, Michigan, northwest of Detroit. Vivian was a friend of Owen’s sister, who introduced them after Owen returned home from serving in the Navy during the Korean War. The Autrys were married for 68 years.
Owen worked for a time in machine repair at General Motors. The Autrys moved to California when he accepted a job with Campbell Soup Company. When he retired, he was foreman of a can production plant.
Camping was the couple’s favorite getaway. They started with small campers. They eventually bought a motorhome, and later owned two converted buses.
Owen loved building and repairing things. As a helper, he assisted Bill Hannie in building and performing conversion work on the second bus, an MCI, which Owen bought while attending an FMCA convention in Pomona, California.
“Once you go to rallies and meet these people, it’s a lasting friendship,” Vivian said. In fact, she said that was her husband’s favorite aspect of FMCA: “Being with people of like mindedness and enjoying the camaraderie.”
In addition to his wife, Owen is survived by a son and a daughter; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org.