Owens, age 90, went to be with his Lord on Friday, October 30, 2015. He was born in Delta, Alabama (Clay County), December 19, 1924 and lived most of his life in Birmingham. He was a long time resident of the Vestavia Hills Community. His parents were Lucious Clinton and Claudie Owens Sims. He was educated in the Birmingham Public School system attending Ensley High School. He graduated from Birmingham Southern College with a degree of Bachelor of Arts. He served in the United States Navy for 3½ years, receiving an honorable discharge in 1946 with a rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. After his military service, he attended the University of Alabama, School of Commerce and Business Administration receiving a Master of Business Administration Degree. He entered the business world after his graduation from the University of Alabama in 1948 as an employee of F.W. Nichols & Company, Certified Public Accountants and admitted as a Partner in the firm in 1953. He was one of the founding partners of McCarty, Dudley, Hopton-Jones, Sims & Freeman PLLP, Certified Public Accountants. He was a former Chairman of the Federal Tax Clinic at the University of Alabama where a scholarship was named in his honor at the School of Accountancy. He is a former member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Commerce Executives Society. He was married to the former Jo Anne Culp in 1947. His family consists of two daughters: Cheryl Sims Cordell (Tom) and Christie Sims Blake, and seven grandchildren; Nathan Robert Blake, David Joseph Blake, and Katie Elizabeth Blake, Andrew Thomas Cordell (Chrissie), Bradley Nolen Cordell (Sara), Leslie Anne Ailsworth (David) and Kevin Stewart Cordell (Tricia); five great grandsons, Bradley Noel Stegall, Owens Andrew Cordell, Luke Roger Cordell, Benjamin Thomas Cordell, and Graham David Ailsworth and seven great granddaughters, Savannah Grayson Ailsworth, Emily Elizabeth Blake, Hannah Grace Cordell, Rebecca Anne Cordell, Lucy Freman Cordell, Eleanor Ruth Cordell, and Louisa Mae Cordell. He, along with his wife, received the Angel of Change award in 2007 from Easter Seals. The award is for outstanding contributions to help improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. He was a member of the Vestavia Country Club, having served as President in 1980, and Willow Point Country Club. He had over forty years perfect attendance in the downtown Kiwanis Club of Birmingham and served as Treasurer. He was a member of the Metropolitan Development Board for twenty-one years, and served as its Treasurer He served on the Board and Treasurer of the Birmingham Area Easter Seals and its predecessor the Occupational Rehabilitation Center. He was a member of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church and the Trinity Sunday School Class. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015 at 11:00 am at Vestavia Hills UMC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Owens memory to Vestavia Hills UMC or Easter Seals of Birmingham.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18