The USS West Virginia battleship, which was the length of two football fields and stood eight stories high, was launched on November 19, 1921, sponsored by Alice Wright Mann, daughter of West Virginia millionaire Isaac T. Mann. West Virginia Governor Ephraim Morgan and Alice Wright Mann are featured at the left of the photograph. Photograph from the West Virginia Archives.

During her first year of service, the ship ran aground off Hampton Roads. After repairs were completed, the West Virginia became the flagship for the Commander, Battleship Divisions, Battle Fleet. The ship won numerous awards and participated in annual large-scale exercises. During 1926, she took part in maneuvers to test the defenses of Hawaii and joined the fleet for a cruise to Australia and New Zealand. The West Virginia also participated in exercises from Hawaii to the Caribbean and the Atlantic, and from Alaskan waters to Panama.

Alice ("Peg") Wright Mann Owen was born on
15 Oct 1902.
Alice married James Churchill Owen
on 31 Oct 1925.
She died on 21 Aug 1989 (aged 87).

Alice "Peg" Mann Owen and her husband, Churchill "Church" Owen had three sons. James ("Jim") C. Owen, Jr. The other Owen sons are William M. Owen, who lives in Baltimore, Maryland; and Thomas P. Owen, who lives in Denver and Mountain Lakes, Florida. Church and Peg had several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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