Jodie “Sonny” Owens, 88, of Malvern, passed away Monday, October 12, 2026.

Sonny is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Luella Owens; three brothers, Ladd Owens, Frantze “Butch” Owens, and Wheeler Owens; three sisters, Suda Mirl Coffey, Marjorie Sharp, and Jean Tasker; his wife, Dorothea Maxine Owens; one son, Monte Sowell; one daughter, Rebecca Tully; daughter-in-law, Petra Sowell and one grandson, Dexter Honold. He is survived by three daughters, Robbin McDermott (Tracy) of Enola, Rachel Ezzell of Denver, and Jackie Owens of Malvern; one son-in-law, Michael Tully of Malvern, twelve grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Born June 6, 1938 in Benton, AR, Sonny worked hard his entire life. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps five months before his eighteenth birthday, serving his country for 3 years before being honorably discharged on February 14, 1959. He married Maxine in 1972 and together they had a daughter, completing their large family. Sonny began working at the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department in Benton as a member of the road maintenance crew, swiftly moving up to a drilling crew out of Little Rock, and then into the research laboratory in Little Rock. What began as a stable job to provide for his family turned into a gratifying career and he spent 23 years with AHTD before retiring in May of 2000.

Sonny supported his children and loved his family, but he had an extra special place in his heart for his grandchildren. He loved to give them a hard time and try to convince them to sit down and watch NASCAR with him. Every time a grandchild would walk into the house, he would light up, no matter when it was, and he was always proud to be their “Pops.”

Sonny’s warmth and willingness to help everyone will be missed deeply by all who knew him.

Cremation services will be provided by Atkinson Funeral Home of Malvern. A private family celebration of life will occur at a later date.