W.A. “Bill” Owens, of Rebecca, Georgia, died Thursday, March 16, 2006, at Tift Health Care in Tifton, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 4:00 P.M., Saturday, March 18, 2006, at Big Creek Baptist Church, Irwin County, with Rev. Wayne McCrimmon and Rev. Jack Perrin officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ocilla from 7:00 to 9:00 Friday evening.
Mr. Owens was born April 16, 1915, in Turner County, Georgia, to the late James Daniel and Ella Lunsford Owens. He was a farmer, an avid fisherman, and a member of Big Creek Baptist Church. He had lived in the community most of his life.
Mr. Owens is survived by his wife of 64 years: Gene P. Owens of Irwin County; ten children and their spouses: Mildred and J.L. Goodman of Ocilla, Herman and Patricia Owens of Irwinville, Faye and Bill Busbin of Ocilla, Troy and Bernadette Owens of Irwin County, Nina and Carroll Whitley of Fitzgerald, Camilla Mancil of Mystic, Debbie and Larry Gurr of Douglas, Morris Owens of Ocilla, Albert Owens of Mystic, and Betty and Henry O’Kelly of Commerce; 32 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren.. He was preceded in death by a daughter: Mary Owens, one grandchild, one great-grandchild, four brothers, and four sisters.