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A photo of Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens

Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens 1915 - 2001

Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens was born on April 27, 1915 in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia United States. She was married to Jesse Owens, and they were together until Jesse's death on March 31, 1980. Minnie Owens died at age 86 years old on June 27, 2001 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and was buried at Oak Woods Cemetery 1035 E 67th St, in Chicago.

Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Minnie Ruth Owens (Solomon)
Name
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Last residence
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April 27, 1915
Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, United States
Birth
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June 27, 2001
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States
Death
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Female
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Updated: March 18, 2020
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens Minnie Owens (1915 - 2001)
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens' History: 1915 - 2001

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  • Introduction

    Minnie Ruth Solomon Owens BIRTH 27 Apr 1915 Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, USA DEATH 27 Jun 2001 (aged 86) Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA BURIAL Oak Woods Cemetery Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA PLOT Calm Vista MEMORIAL ID 22756404 · View Source MEMORIAL PHOTOS 7 FLOWERS 25 Ruth S. Owens, 86 Widow of Olympian Chaired foundation When Jesse Owens jumped and ran his way to four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics, putting the lie to Hitler's claims of Aryan racial superiority, his wife was at home with their first child. Although the expense of the trip was too great for them both to attend the Berlin Games, Ruth S. Owens was beside her track-star husband every step of the way before and after, preserving and spreading his legacy for generations. Mrs. Owens, 86, the longtime board chairwoman of the Jesse Owens Foundation, died of heart failure Wednesday, June 27, in her Hyde Park home. Mrs. Owens first met her husband, who already was a budding track star, in junior high school. He said "hello," she pretended she didn't hear him, and soon they were sharing doughnuts, said daughter Marlene Owens Rankin. They were married for nearly 48 years until his 1980 death. "She saw them as partners," her daughter said. They raised three daughters and were involved in numerous charitable organizations, with a special fondness for those geared toward children. Her husband was an Up With People board member and helped start the ARCO/Jesse Owens Games, a summer track and field competition for children across the country that culminated with scholarships for the winners. When he died, Mrs. Owens took his Up With People board seat and continued serving as an ARCO ambassador, making appearances and greeting the children at the games, her daughter said. Nearly 11 million children, including Carl Lewis, had participated by the event's end a few years ago. "She protected [Jesse Owens'] legacy and guarded it with all of her being," her daughter said. "She was chairman of the Jesse Owens Foundation, which existed to perpetuate his legacy. It was sort of the embodiment of him and how he spent his life. She was at the center of it." Mrs. Owens was board chairwoman and an active fundraiser for the foundation formed 21 years ago to give scholarships and a chance to average students who were active in the community. More than 270 children have since earned the four-year, $2,000 annual scholarships, and 97 percent graduated from college, said her daughter, the current executive director. The foundation added mentoring and donations to youth-oriented organizations to its activities. Mrs. Owens was a strong, independent woman, said son-in-law Stuart Rankin. "She went by Ruth Owens. She didn't go by Mrs. Jesse Owens, although she was very proud of all that," he said. Mrs. Owens loved playing bridge, viewing sports and watching the Olympics. "She used to watch Michael Jordan religiously," her son-in-law said. Mrs. Owens is also survived by two other daughters, Gloria Hemphill and Beverly Prather; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday at Griffin Funeral Home, 3232 S. King Drive, and at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Unitarian Church of Hyde Park, followed by an 11 a.m. funeral service. 29 Jun 2001, Chicago Tribune News. Chicago, Cook, Illinois Family Members Parents John W. Solomon 1884–1935 Ellen Pugh Solomon 1887–1974 Spouse of Jesse Owens 1913–1980 (m. 1935) Inscription Devoted Wife - Beloved Mother Flowers • 25 Left by Kay on 15 Sep 2019
  • 04/27
    1915

    Birthday

    April 27, 1915
    Birthdate
    Macon, Bibb County, Georgia United States
    Birthplace
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  • Professional Career

    Ruth S. Owens, the widow of the Olympian Jesse Owens and the longtime chairwoman of the foundation honoring his legacy, died Wednesday. She was 86.
  • 06/27
    2001

    Death

    June 27, 2001
    Death date
    Unknown
    Cause of death
    Chicago, Cook County, Illinois United States
    Death location
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  • Gravesite & Burial

    mm/dd/yyyy
    Funeral date
    Oak Woods Cemetery 1035 E 67th St, in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois 60637, United States
    Burial location

  • Obituary

    Ruth Owens, 86, Widow of Jesse Owens By The Associated Press June 30, 2001 Ruth S. Owens, the widow of the Olympian Jesse Owens and the longtime chairwoman of the foundation honoring his legacy, died Wednesday. She was 86. She died of heart failure at her home in the Hyde Park neighborhood. She and Jesse Owens, who died in 1980, were married for nearly 48 years. Jesse Owens jumped and ran his way to four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, defeating Adolf Hitler's claims of Aryan racial superiority. Because the trip to the Games was too expensive, Ruth Owens stayed at home with their first child. ''She protected his legacy and guarded it with all of her being,'' Marlene Owens Rankin said of her mother. ''It was sort of the embodiment of him and how he spent his life. She was at the center of it.'' Ruth Owens was chairwoman and an active fund-raiser for the foundation formed 21 years ago to give scholarships to average students active in the community. She was also an ambassador of the Jesse Owens Games, a summer track and field competition that granted scholarships to children across the country. She is survived by three daughters, Marlene Owens Rankin, Gloria Hemphill and Beverly Prather; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
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9 Memories, Stories & Photos about Minnie

Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
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03/11/2020
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
This is a photo of Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens added by Amanda S. Stevenson on March 11, 2020.
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
17.8k+ favorites
03/11/2020
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
This is a photo of Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens added by Amanda S. Stevenson on March 11, 2020.
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
17.8k+ favorites
03/11/2020
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
This is a photo of Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens' and Jesse Owens' daughters added by Amanda S. Stevenson on March 11, 2020.
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
17.8k+ favorites
03/11/2020
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
17.8k+ favorites
03/11/2020
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
This is a photo of Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens added by Amanda S. Stevenson on March 11, 2020.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
17.8k+ favorites
03/11/2020
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
This is a photo of Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens added by Amanda S. Stevenson on March 11, 2020.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
17.8k+ favorites
03/11/2020
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
This is a photo of Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens added by Amanda S. Stevenson on March 11, 2020.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
17.8k+ favorites
03/11/2020
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Minnie Solomon's Family Tree & Friends

Minnie Solomon's Family Tree

Parent
Parent
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens Apr 27, 1915 - Jun 27, 2001
Partner
Child
Sibling
Marriage

Jesse Owens

&

Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens

March 31, 1980
Jesse's death date
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Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens
Minnie Ruth (Solomon) Owens Apr 27, 1915 - Jun 27, 2001
Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens Sep 12, 1913 - Mar 31, 1980
Child
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Other Biographies

Other Minnie Solomon Biographies

Solomon, Minnie (Jan 10, 1896 - Jul 1976) Solomon, Minnie (Jun 11, 1892 - Sep 1983) Solomon, Minnie (Jul 25, 1891 - Oct 1974) Solomon, Minnie (Sep 9, 1894 - May 1985) Solomon, Minnie (Dec 17, 1885 - Oct 1980) Solomon, Minnie (Dec 19, 1912 - Jun 24, 1994) Solomon, Minnie (Mar 3, 1882 - Jun 1965) Solomon, Minnie (Mar 25, 1888 - Apr 1974) Solomon, Minnie (Mar 9, 1884 - Feb 1974) Solomon, Minnie (Jul 28, 1901 - Apr 1976)
Solomon, Minnie (Aug 9, 1894 - Sep 1978) Solomon, Minnie (Feb 4, 1895 - Feb 1977) Solomon, Minnie (Aug 12, 1905 - Oct 1984) Solomon, Minnie (May 23, 1888 - Apr 1979) Solomon, Minnie (Feb 21, 1921 - Jun 10, 2006) Solomon, Minnie (Oct 20, 1920 - Sep 2, 1992) Solomon, Minnie (Nov 27, 1919 - Dec 20, 2010) Solomon, Minnie (Dec 5, 1901 - Aug 1975) Solomon, Minnie (May 13, 1890 - Sep 1977) Solomon, Minnie (Mar 8, 1890 - Dec 1973)

Other Solomon Family Biographies

Solomon, Arthur (Born Nov 12, 1881) Solomon, Odella (Born Jan 24, 1883) Solomon, Clarence (Born Jan 29, 1901) Solomon, Geneva (Born Jan 18, 1903) Solomon, Braudy (Born Oct 25, 1906) Solomon, Marshall (Born Sep 10, 1908) Solomon, Daisy Aie (Born Sep 19, 1904) Solomon, Richard (Born Nov 25, 1910) Solomon, James (Born Dec 11, 1890) Solomon, Maude Lee (Born Jan 17, 1893)
Solomon, Bernard (Feb 21, 1912 - Feb 1986) Solomon, Betty (Feb 25, 1927 - Dec 16, 1997) Solomon, Nettie (Aug 8, 1889 - Nov 1970) Solomon, Salem (Mar 10, 1888 - Sep 1965) Solomon, James (Sep 13, 1880 - Oct 1976) Solomon, Edith (Mar 3, 1913 - Dec 12, 1999) Solomon, Margot (May 18, 1914 - Jun 1983) Solomon, Frieda (Feb 23, 1896 - Mar 1982) Solomon, Pili (Jul 1, 1952 - Aug 23, 2011) Solomon, Elias (Jan 22, 1894 - Jul 1968)
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