He was also a part-time lecturer in horticulture at the University of Western Australia between 1935 and 1941, and from 1942 to 1944 was seconded to the federal Department of Commerce and Agriculture as an inspector of canned fruits and vegetables.
Owen ran as an independent at the 1947 state election, but lost his seat to Gerald Wild of the Liberal Party.
However, at the 1962 election, Owen lost his seat to the Liberal Party's Ken Dunn in a three-cornered contest.
He successfully petitioned the Court of Disputed Returns for the election to be overturned, but was again defeated by Dunn at the resulting by-election.
He was president of the Western Australian Fruitgrowers' Association from 1967 to 1970, and also contributed articles to agricultural journals.