It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Paul Owen on February 4, 2023. Paul was born on October 5, 1945 and raised in Eureka, California. He was a 1963 graduate of St. Bernard’s High School and from there, he went on to Santa Rosa Junior College. Due to a family issue, Paul had to drop out of college to move home and help his family’s business. Once he dropped out of school, he immediately received a personal invitation from President Johnson to join the Army for an all-inclusive vacation in scenic Vietnam. Paul was a front-line grunt that walked point through the jungles of Vietnam. He proudly served his country from 1966-1968 and survived the Tet Offensive of January 1968.

Paul came back home and began his career in the bar business. He worked at many local bars (Powderhorn, OH’s Townhouse, Fat Alberts, and Alley Cat to name a few) and then purchased White Distributors in the early 70s, a bar supply business that provided non-alcoholic supplies to local bars and restaurants. He then spent the next 50 years driving his white van around to Humboldt County bars and restaurants, always wearing shorts, a T-shirt and a cap regardless of the weather. It could have been 35 or 75 degrees and Paul would always wear the same outfit.

Paul learned to barter with the local restaurants and if something “fell off a truck,” Paul was there to catch it and barter for something. A confession as Paul was a dealer… a cheese and fish dealer. Back in the 80s, someone from Nevada came to Humboldt County to sell a few hundred pounds of white cheddar cheese that fell off a truck and somehow, people turned him on to Paul. He bought the cheese low and sold it high to every bar and restaurant in town. Normally, this would have been a cute story, except since the cheese crossed state lines, the FBI showed up looking for Paul. Calamity ensued.

Back in the day, Paul used to hang out at the fishing docks. When a fisherman catches a halibut or salmon out-of-season, by law they’re supposed to take the dead fish and drop it back into the ocean. That’s what they’re supposed to do. In reality, many fishermen take the fish and put it on ice in a cooler, while keeping an eye out for the Coast Guard and Fish & Game. Back at the docks, the out-of-season fish was bartered and many Humboldt County restaurants had fresh halibut or salmon on the menu that their chef “caught that morning”.

Paul was an avid hunter, fisherman and liked to dive for abalone. Please don’t feel sorry for him as he is now out of his misery. He no longer has to suffer through another dreadful season of his beloved Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.

Paul met his wife Suzie in 1976 and was with her until the day he died. He is survived by his wife, Suzie Owen; his daughter Rhonda Pace and her husband Darin Pace; his granddaughters Kylie Pace, her husband Tyler Clare; and Tawnie (Pace) Gonzalez and her husband Austin Gonzalez; and his great-grandchildren, great-granddaughter Evaleigh Gonzalez and great-grandson Dawson Gonzalez. He is also survived by his siblings: sister Chris Owen, and brothers Marc Owen and Matthew Owen.

A memorial of life is scheduled for Saturday, February 25 at the Moose Lodge (4328 Campton Road in Eureka) from 3 to 6 p.m.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Paul Owen’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.