William Owen Jarvis

Colonel William Owen Jarvis, age 94, died on February 28, 2016. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother, a devout believer and man of the church, and a highly-decorated veteran of the Second World War. Colonel Jarvis was born in White County, Tennessee, on January 21, 1922. He was the son of William Isaac Jarvis (1885-1943) and Irene Pearl Owen (1892-1970). He was a 1939 graduate of White County High School, and immediately after graduating from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in 1943 he joined the United States Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theatre as a tank commander. After being awarded a Silver Star for heroism in the conquest of Iwo Jima, he was transferred to Hawaii where he was in training for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, he entered business and also worked his family’s farm, but he enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard in 1947.

His thirty years in the Guard included serving as assistant commander of the 30th Armored Division and as State Maintenance Officer of the 30th Support Group. After his retirement from the guard in 1977, Colonel Jarvis became State Finance Officer for the Tennessee National Guard. He was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro and was a United Methodist lay speaker throughout Rutherford County.

Preceded in death by his sister, Jane Keith Jarvis, Colonel Jarvis is survived by his wife of 60 years, Pauline Hawkins Jarvis, their daughters Sarah Elizabeth “Betsy” (Gary) Batey and Elinor Ruth (Paul) Clements, grandchildren Rebecca Christine (Mark) Camarigg, Jessica Cathleen (Dr. Dustin) Temple, George Paul Clements III, Owen Jarvis Clements, Katherine Pauline Clements, John Woodson Clements, their great-grandson, Owen Price Camarigg, and by his sister, Dannie Sims Jarvis, Nashville.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff of Richland Place Health Care Center, and the many devoted sitters for their compassionate service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Salvation Army or Trinity United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Visitation with the family will be on Thursday March 3, 2016 from 11:30-12:30 at Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home with a Celebration of Life service to follow at 12:30 PM. Please visit our online obituary at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com.