Sandy McOwen
Sherwood Arthur McOwen, Jr. (nicknamed Sandy by his grandfather) was born September 11, 1944 in Long Beach, CA to Sherwood and Mary Kay McOwen. The eldest of three children, his brother Scott and sister Susan soon followed. The family moved to San Jacinto where the children grew up with horses, cows, and a service station which their father owned on the large rural ranch. Their grandparents, Howard and Gertrude McOwen also lived on the property.
Sandy attended San Jacinto High School and excelled in football and basketball. He attended UCSB and received a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering. He played varsity football and basketball at UCSB and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He met Francine in the UCSB library where they were both “studying” and their long love story began, as they were married September 16, 1967. Sandy began work at Raytheon the week of return from their honeymoon and they lived in Isla Vista until purchasing their Pebble Hill home in 1970, just in time for birth of Sarah Ann, followed by Matthew Sherwood, and then Jordan Scott.
Sandy loved family life and doted on his children, never missing an Indian Princess and Indian Guide activity. dance recitals, countless Nutcracker performances, water polo games, basketball games, volleyball games and often coached teams when the children were young. The family enjoyed yearly camping and hiking in Yosemite and days at the beach surfing. As the children grew and married, the grandchildren Kate, Rebecca, Andrew and Nathan became the apples of his eye. He also loved his nieces and nephews and became the family’s beloved storyteller, famous for such stories as “Mr. Honker”, “Mr. Sneezer” and “the Gootchy Lady.”
Sandy worked in the Raytheon EWS Space and Airborne systems until 2007 and invented and developed multiple microwave antennae, oscillators and power amplifiers. He won multiple design contests and invention contests as well as receiving patents in the USA and Europe. A highlight in his later work was receiving national recognition with the Raytheon team at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
After retirement Sandy became a CIF Volleyball Referee and also started his new career in acting and theater, with several courses at SBCC and private lessons. He had many acting gigs including student films, plays and feature length films and also appeared in films for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, walking the red carpet several times.
The writings of C.S Lewis were a major influence and foundation for Sandy’s Christian faith, as he met Jesus through a college Young Life Bible study led by lifelong friend Ralph De La Vega. Sandy’s brother-in-law Chuck launched Sandy into starting the Dos Pueblos High School Young Life club, even though Sandy was a very new believer and struggled through it all. He loved the high school kids he met and spent countless hours with them, and his own faith grew rapidly, from the small YL clubs and even smaller boys’ Campaigners, many of his club kids met Jesus and have become leaders in many parts of the world. Years of study in Men’s Bible Study Fellowship and fellowship and community at Calvary Baptist Church and later Santa Barbara Community Church grew his faith. He and Francine led Homegroups at SB Community Church for many years and the friends in these groups became and are still our family. Sandy also served on the Santa Barbara Young Life Area Committee for many years.
Sandy always wore his Young Life baseball cap whenever venturing from the house which was a conversation starter with many a stranger and then new friend. In the ending years when caregivers helped him he asked them to read to him from the Narnia series. These were two of his ways of gentle evangelism.
Sandy is survived by his wife, Francine, children Sarah ( Troy) Zorn, Matt ( Sarah) McOwen, Jordan Mc Owen, siblings, Scott ( Carolyn) McOwen, Susan ( Bob) Wilson, sister in law Jeanie Smith (Chuck), grandchildren Kate, Rebecca, Andrew and Nathan, and many fun and wonderful nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Sandy left for heaven, departing from home and at peace on September 16, the day of Sandy and Francine’s 56th wedding anniversary, but not the end of a very long love story.
In lieu of flowers please consider a gift in Sandy’s honor to our local Young Life Area. Gifts may be made on line at sbylgive.com or checks mailed to Young Life, 3046 De La Vina, Santa Barbara, CA 93105.
A memorial is planned for November 24, 2 pm, at Santa Barbara Community Church, 1002 Cieneguitas Rd.