Obituary of Owen L. Burns
Owen Lewis Burns passed away at his home in Georgetown, Texas on August 15th, 2025.
Owen lived every day with unbridled passion. With an infectious smile, he made new friends instantly, was the life of every social gathering, and never turned down a good time. He loved golf, Carolina Tar Heels basketball, playing with dogs (especially his family dogs Paddington, Peebles, and Gizmo), eating at Chipotle, and, above all else, his beloved New York Rangers. Owen had a wandering heart and felt comfort in being on the move. Along his life’s journey, he built community in Virginia, New York, North Carolina, California, Washington, Vermont, Tennessee, and Texas. He loved music, especially the Grateful Dead, classic rock, and his favorite live band, Phish. Owen attended the University of North Carolina where he met many of his lifelong friends as a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. After graduating in 2014 with a psychology degree, Owen enjoyed work as a copywriter in the advertising world; his favorite project was working on copy with the infamous “Mr. T” from the A-Team. Psychology was the perfect major for Owen as he was incredibly social and always connected with others. He was an incredible mentor to many people who were just beginning their own healing journeys, and he impacted hundreds of people’s lives with his positive spirit and zest for life.
Owen was born on May 21st, 1989, in Richmond, Virginia to Andrew Conover and Julia Wilkerson Burns and is survived by his brother and sister, Andrew and Wilton. Owen, a family name, translates in Welsh to “warrior,” a meaning he took to heart, carrying him through the battle for inner peace that we know he has now found.
A funeral service to honor Owen’s life will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at St. James Episcopal Church in Clinton, NY. Owen will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery in a private service for the family. Arrangements by Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Clinton, NY.
Donations in Owen’s honor can be made to Spring Lake Ranch Therapeutic Community in Rutland, VT (https://springlakeranch.org/donate/) and Next Step Recovery in Asheville, NC (https://nextsteprecovery.com/planned-giving/).
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