Owen died on September 5, 2012, in Raleigh.  He was survived by his sons, Sidney D. Smith and O. Franklin Smith, Jr., and his sister, Sue S. Applewhite.

Owen graduated from North Carolina State with a degree in architectual engineering and practiced architecture in Raleigh for over 65 years.  He worked until 2011 and is believed to have been the oldest registered architect in the United States.  His work included office buildings, modernist homes, churches and over 200 school projects. He won design awards for the Farm Bureau buildings, Lynn Road Church, Bertie County High School and the sanctuary of Hayes Barton Baptist Church.  He could work with contemporary or traditional designs.  He strived to balance good design, field practicality and the client's goals.  He was fortunate to have a profession that was his passion throughout his life.