John Owings. (Courtesy photo)
John E. Owings, of Nashua, New Hampshire, formerly of Chelmsford and Harvard, died peacefully March 21, 2026, after recent health complications.
John was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 20, 1942. At 14, he became a licensed amateur radio operator and remained active in the hobby his entire life. His skill with radios and Morse code was put to good use after enlisting in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a radar and radio operator. A proud member of patrol squadron VP-26, based at NAS Brunswick, Maine, John fell in love with the Brunswick area and the coast of Maine. After leaving the Navy, John attended Christian Brothers College in Tennessee, earning a degree in electrical engineering.
In 1967, John met and married the love of his life, Gail, his wife of 59 years, who remained his constant companion throughout the rest of his life. Returning to New England, John began his career at Raytheon Corporation, and then in 1971 transitioned into insurance and financial planning. With Gail by his side, he built Owings Financial Services into a thriving business with a large network of clients throughout the region—clients who so often became friends.
John was a man of deep community spirit. He was active in his local church, the Jaycees, Rotary International, the Caleb Butler Masonic Lodge, and the Shriners. He was always ready to lend a hand, fix something broken, or build something someone needed. Among his greatest passions was Scouting. John served as a den leader in cub pack 21 in Chelmsford, and longtime scoutmaster of Troop 1 in Harvard. He shaped the lives of countless young men, leading them on trips across the mountains of northern New England, including multiple ascents of Mount Washington and Mount Katahdin, as well as canoe treks along the Saco River. He encouraged many Scouts to earn the Eagle Scout rank, and one of his greatest joys was seeing one of his own children and two of his grandchildren achieve that honor.
John was a true adventurer. When his children were young, the family spent winters skiing across New England and summers sailing the coasts of New England and eastern Canada, creating stories and memories the family carries to this day. In later years, John and Gail took extensive motorcycle trips together, visiting friends across North America and Europe.
The state of Maine held a special place in John’s heart. For over 20 years, the family kept a camp in T1R9, where they explored the remote northwoods and the trails of Baxter State Park.
John also had a deep love of dogs, especially Boston terriers, and those who knew him well are certain he is now joyfully reunited with his beloved pets.
John is survived by his wife Gail; his daughter, Rebecca Peterson, her husband Eric, and their two children, Matthew and Sarah; and his son Scott, his wife Lora, and their four children: Virginia, Grace, Eliza, and Archer.
Visiting hours will be held at Badger Funeral Home, 347 King Street, Littleton, April 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. Further services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider honoring John’s memory with a donation to one of the charities he believed in: Tunnel to Towers, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or Samaritan’s Purse.