Farewell to a Dallas Real Estate Legend: Robert Wayne Owens

We are saddened to tell you of a great loss to our real estate community, and the loss of a great personal friend, Robert Wayne Owens.

The dapper, perfect Southern gentleman to the core was an agent with Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate.

Born in Florence, South Carolina, and raised in Charleston, Robert Wayne was a true child of Carolina’s beautiful, beachy “low country.” Upon his move to Dallas from his beloved Charleston, Robert Wayne worked with the Chris Hickman group at Ebby Halliday Realtors before moving to Dave Perry-Miller’s Preston Center office.

Born in 1947 and raised as an only child, Robert Wayne graduated from the University of South Carolina and enjoyed a long, successful sales career with American Hospital Supply, which included a lot of travel throughout the South. Married briefly, he had no children. He also was a member of the famed Chautauqua Institution, where he met the love of his life, Dave Perry-Miller agent Bonnie Bauer.

Since its inception in 1874, Chautauqua has served as an educational and recreational lakeside destination for artists, educators, thinkers, faith leaders, and friends alike in southwestern New York state.

“It’s like a giant adult camp with a lot of art and inspiration, ” says Bauer, who has been a member ever since her work with the San Antonio Symphony Junior Women’s Committee. The SA Symphony conductor and many symphony members summered in Chautauqua and played in its world-class Symphony.  The Clintons were regular attendees, and Ken Burns the noted documentary filmmaker, summered there for decades, often previewing his films at Chautauqua. 

“Thomas Edison had a house up there on the lake,” says Bauer. “It is a most invigorating place.”

Wayne Owens Hits the Ground Running at Dave Perry-Miller

In 2015, Bauer attended a lecture at Chautauqua after a lengthy vacation at the Jersey Shore. Decked out in her bright beach vacation clothes, most in the audience were wearing staid, casual clothing, she said. In walked a dapper man in a Panama Hat, dressed to the nines in Ralph Lauren, carrying a cane. He sat down next to her and said, in a beautiful Carolina drawl, “You look like somebody I need to know.”

That was Robert Wayne Owens from Charleston. The two began dating and Robert Wayne moved to Dallas in 2017 to be with Bauer, who he called the woman of his dreams.

“Robert Wayne would often say to me and anyone in earshot, ‘I waited  all my life for you,'” says Bauer.

When Robert Wayne retired from American Hospital Supply, he immediately obtained his real estate license in Charleston, but he used it in Texas as he moved here to join forces with Bauer.

A natural-born salesman, Robert Wayne loved holding open houses. Among his clients were some of Preston Hollow and Park Cities’ most established families.

Besides Chautauqua, Robert Wayne and Bauer traveled to Key West every winter for a month, where they joined a group of longtime friends. Every night they would have a toast to the sunset over the sea. Robert Wayne loved the Atlantic more than anything. Kenneth Knight put it so well that we cannot say it better:

Arrangements are underway for a celebration of life, with a beach theme — exactly what Robert Wayne Owens desired.

Donations in his honor may be made to the Bradley R. Watson Endowment Foundation and to support research in hematological cancer at Baylor University Medical Center, Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation 301 N. Washington Ave, Dallas, Texas 75206.