Edward Owens

The funeral service for Edward Owens, 83, of Blythewood, will be held 10 o’clock, Thursday, January 13, 2011, at Pine View Baptist Church, 111 Pine View Church Rd, Blythewood. Officiating will be his nephews, The Rev. Johnny Dickinson, The Rev. Jerry Barlowe, The Rev. Mikki Corley Gay, and Pastor Jacob Helsley. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with full military honors. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall. Shives Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to the Breath of Life Lutheran Church, PO Box 565, Blythewood, SC 29016.

Mr. Owens was born November 20, 1927, in Highland Home, Alabama, the 6th child of Charlie and Loduski White Owens. He went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 10, 2011. At the age of 17, Eddie chose to start his life adventure by enlisting in the US Army. He saw duty overseas in Europe and Korea, and served in WW II and the Korean Conflict. Retiring in 1966, after 23 years of unfaltering love and honor to the United States of America, Eddie then pursued careers and retirements with both the SC Forestry Commission and the City of Columbia.

He met and married Jennie Lee Gunter Mosley in Blythewood where they lived and raised their four children. He also helped organize and carry out weekend horse rides and trail rides in the Blythewood area.

After all his retirements Eddie spent his leisure time visiting with Les at the VFW, talking to his buddies Eddie Coker and Mr. Abbott, and fishing at Lake Wateree with Clark. He always had projects going on up at the lake and stayed busy helping Bobbie next door. He loved the Carolina Gamecocks, traveling and going on cruises. His hobbies included woodworking, fishing and boating at his Lake Wateree home. He was the “grill” sergeant and gracious host to countless friends and family. Many youngsters learned to ski and tube behind his old Evinrude boat with Eddie watching from the bank grinning and cheering them all the while flipping burgers and bar-be-queing chicken.

Left behind to cherish his memory, are his loving daughters, Mary Ellen “Bo” (Larry) Corley, Deborah McNair, Jeannie (Sammy) Blume of Blythewood; grandchildren, Mikki (Bob) Gay, Chris (Sharon) Corley, Phil McNair, Jr. and Todd McNair, Gina (Josh) Akey, Mandy (John) Stafford, Billy (Jennifer) Mosley and Kathy Morrison; 12 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Pearl Owens of Alabama; nieces, Daisy (Johnny) Dickinson, Frances (Jerry) Barlowe, Joanie Maddox, Eula Pearl Nolan, Sherry (Larry) Allen and Jancie Hunt of Indiana; and 3 nephews, Glen Owens, Douglas Owens, R.D. “Junior” (Sandra) Owens, Jr., all of Alabama; 5 great nephews and great nieces; Ex-wife, Jennie G. Owens Martin of Blythewood. In addition to his parents, Eddie was preceded in death by siblings, Janie Owens, Eula Hunt, Leota Owens, R.D. Owens, Tommy D. Owens; son, Lloyd Allen Mosley, Sr; grandson, L.A. Mosley, Jr. of Blythewood; granddaughter, Nancy Scott McNair.

His support and generosity to family, friends and strangers will never be matched, as no one did it better. He loved his family dearly and was always there for everyone.