William Bruce Owens,

William B. Owens Sr., of Suches GA, known as Grandpa Bill and Bloop, passed away at his residence on July 13, 2009 after a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his parents Willie and Lucie Bruce Owens of Cartersville GA. He is survived by Peggy, his wife of 63 years, son and daughter-in-law Billy and Carol Owens of Suches, Daughter and son-in-law Penny and Bob Waller of Chattanooga and daughter Lucie Scales of Suches. Also surviving are Grandsons Lt. col. James Barker and fiancée Sarah Stronsky of Bethesda MD, Brian and Jessica Owens of Athens GA, Ben Bowers of Chattanooga, Reid and Lisa Owens of Suches and Curtis Owens of Suches. Surviving granddaughters are Daisy Rickets of Chattanooga and Mary Candler Scales of Greensboro NC. Great-grandchildren are Troy Barker of Hickory NC, Jack Rickets of Chattanooga, Joshua Owens of Suches, Elizabeth Drew Rickets of Chattanooga and Taylor Kitchens of Suches. Several special nieces and nephews also survive.
Bill graduated from Tech High School in Atlanta and attended Georgia Tech until he was called to the army in WW II. He served with the 15th Forward Artillery Observation Battalion in Africa, Anzio and Italy for 3½ years, a unit that was on the front lines for a record 534 continuous days which earned them a special commendation. After the wars end he became a 59 year member of plumbers Local #72 and joined his family in a plumbing shop in the Buckhead area for 33 years.
Bill was active in the Georgia lions club, having been president of the Brookhaven Club, the Union County Club and was a life member of the Towns County lions. He received the highest award, the Melvin Jones Award, was elected to the Georgia Lions Hall of fame and served as Sergeant at Arms for over thirty years. He served as Commander of VFW post 7394 of Union County, was a member of Allegany Masonic Lodge #114 and a lifetime member of the Yaraab Shrine Club. He served many years on the Blue Ridge Mountain EMC board and worked for over seven years with the U.S. Forest Service, taking care of the water system at Lake Winfield Scott recreation area. He was a founding member of the Union County Volunteer Fire Department station in Suches and was very involved with the Woody Gap School, working many hours in the concession stand during basketball season. As his health declined he sold raffle tickets to support the fire department and the Gaddistown Homemakers? scholarship efforts at the Suches general Store. He also joined Jim Nelson in raising funds for the Chamber of Commerce July 4th fireworks in Blairsville.
The family will hold visitation at Cochran Funeral home in Blairsville on Tuesday, July 14 from 6 to 9 P.M. and graveside services will be at the Zion Baptist Church cemetery on Wolfpen Gap Road in Suches on Wednesday, July 15 at 11:00 A.M. Participating will be the Allegany Masonic lodge # 114, a VFW honor guard and the Lions Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bill Owens Scholarship Fund at the Woody Gap School, 3736 State Highway 60, and Suches GA 30572 or to the Lions Lighthouse, Clairmont Rd, Atlanta GA The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday, July 14, 2009 from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

The Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville, GA is in charge of arrangements.