iPad 2 is locked and I can't get ahold of the old owner

If you do decide to attempt removal of the Activation Lock, here are the Apple’s support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201365

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201441

As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, or unless you can secure the cooperation of the previous owner, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. Without documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple won’t assist - and nobody here will be able to help you.

If you are the owner of the AppleID that previously activated the device - and you have forgotten your AppleID or associated password, these can be recovered here:

https://iforgot.apple.com

To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to one of the following:

• Your primary email address mailbox that corresponds with your AppleID
• Any of the secondary/recovery email addresses that should be configured for your AppleID account
• Any of the trusted telephone numbers (fixed line or Cellular/Mobile) that are associated with your AppleID

Unless you AppleID account has not been fully/correctly configured, or has been seriously neglected, recovery of the AppleID and password should not be difficult.

More information about recovery of your AppleID:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201354

More information about recovery of your AppleID password:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201487

When you recover access to your credentials, you would be well advised to log-in to your AppleID account from a web browser - and verify/update any email addresses and trusted telephone numbers:

https://appleid.apple.com

You also need to know that Apple ended update support for iPad2 in September 2016. iPad2 cannot be updated to iOS 10 or later versions as the internal hardware does not meet the minimum technical requirements for new versions of iOS/iPadOS.

Many App Developers have also dropped support for older devices and iOS versions preceding iOS11/12/13 - and have withdrawn older versions of their Apps from the Apple App Store, now limiting utility and usefulness of older devices.  Even if you do manage to resolve the Activation issue, you will find that Apps compatible with you iPad are now not available for (re)download or (re)installation - therefore severely impacting the usefulness and utility of your [now very old] iPad2.

If Apps that you need to use now have higher minimum iOS-version requirements, your only option is to replace your iPad with newer model.

I hope this information and guidance is helpful in both resolving your activation problem.

Just forget this iPad now!

It is just too old, now

A 2011, iPad 2 is an over 9-year old iPad, now!

In addition to never being able to defeat, circumvent or workaround the user activation lock,

Here's why and what you will need to do about it in 2020.

Tap and read my link below for my additional info about this over 9-year old iPad 2mmodel.

If you own OLD 8 and 9 Year Old iPad mo… - Apple Community

You need to purchase your own new, new refurbished OR a much, MUCH “newer” used iPad model.

These old 8 and 9-year old iPads will be fully obsolete by the end of 2020!

These old iPads are DONE!

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

The device is completely useless to you without the Apple ID and Password used to set up the device. And as MichelPM correctly points out even if you could get into the iPad, no modern apps will even run on such an old, out of date, completely unsupported device.

As to removing the Activation Lock. Apple will NOT help you and we cannot help you. The only person who can help you is the person who put the lock on the iPad and you have already said you can't get in touch with the previous owner.

Recycle the device responsibly. It's useless now.

did you try restarting the whole iPad?

That is NOT going to cure the user activation lock

Sorry.