Ulla Olivia Owens Long (NEE Olsen), age 88, was born on December 4, 1928 in Verum, Sweeden passed away peacefully at home of natural causes surrounded by family on May 6, 2017.
Since arriving by transatlantic boat from Sweden, through Ellis Island, with her mother in 1932, Ulla spent the rest of her life as a resident of Lorain, OH. Some 84 years. Known to hundreds of Lorain residents as the lovely lady at Ted Jacob's downtown store, Ulla was known for her classic beauty, fashion sense, graceful style and pleasant demeanor. All who met her loved her, and her inner beauty was even more stunning than her outer beauty.
As one of Lorain's early beauty queens, Ulla was often photographed for events and promotions by early media and advertising firms modeling outfits and accessories from the Ted Jacobs store. After graduating Lorain High School in 1947, she married Russell Owens in 1948. Together, they had four (4) children: Russell D., Mary Kristen, David J. and Jonathon S. After raising her children a...[more]

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helping the family operate the Owens Record Rack store on Broadway in downtown Lorain, Ulla began a career in retail sales at Ted Jacobs and continued with Dillard's in the Midway Mall, retiring in 1998. She was a fantastic cook and talented artist. She loved fashion, time with family and friends, music (Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and all the classic jazz performers) and was an avid fan of Cleveland sports teams. Later in life she married Robert H. Long in 2001, and they spent many happy years together traveling and enjoying life before Robert's death in 2014. The family also appreciates the loving care given to Ulla in her later years by Robyn Long, Sue Owens, and Britany Petty.
She is survived by: Sons Russell D. (Denise) Owens of Vermilion, OH, David J. (Rita) Owens of Waynesboro, VA, and Jonathon S. (Susan) Owens of Medina, OH, Half-sister Kerstin Nalsson and Half-brother Lars Gösta Larsson of Sweden, loving Sister-in-law Mary Kimmel Bors, Grandchildren Britany Petty (nee Webb) (Chris Palmer) of Columbia Station, OH, Zachary (Erin) Webb of Austin, TX, Samuel Owens of Rutherford, NJ, Patrick Owens of Philadelphia, PA, Calise Owens of Arlington, VA, Ava Owens of Vermilion, OH and Jonathon Owens of Medina, OH, Great Grandchild Genevieve Webb of Austin, TX, and Step-children Jack Long of St. Petersburg, FL, Paul (CeCe) Long of Deland, FL, and Robyn Long of Lorain, OH.
She was preceded in death by: 1st husband Russell J. Owens, 2nd husband Robert H. Long, daughter Mary Kristen Wyvill (nee Owens), Daughter-in-law Lori Owens (nee Millstein), Mother Agnes Sandvick, Step-Father Ernest Sandvick, and Father Gösta Alvar Larsson.


The Owens family invites friends and loved ones to attend a memorial service at First Congregational Church, 423 Washington Ave. in Lorain on Saturday, May 13th at 10:00am, to be followed by a Celebration of Life reception from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at Chez Francois Restaurant (Upstairs event room), 555 Main Street, Vermilion, OH. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 East 185th Street, Cleveland, OH 44119.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dovinreberjones.com