Roy Luther Owens, Jr.

Roy Luther Owens, Jr., 88, of Charleston, SC, husband of Claudia Avant Owens, entered into eternal rest Saturday, February 24, 2024, in Johnson City, Tennessee. His Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at Harbor View Presbyterian Church, 900 Harbor View Road, at 1pm. Interment, Holy Cross Cemetery, 604 Fort Johnson Road, following the service. The family will receive friends from 11am to 1pm at Harbor View Presbyterian Church prior to the service. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.

Roy was born August 28, 1935, in Georgetown, South Carolina, son of the late Roy Luther Owens, Sr. and Nettie Cribb Owens. He graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in 1953 and moved to Charleston in 1954 and began a career with Sears where he worked until his retirement in 1993. He continued to work with his brother, the late Randy Owens, at JK Construction until 2022. He was active duty in the U.S. Army from 1958 – 1960 and in the Coast Guard Reserves from 1974 – 1981. He was called back into active duty for Operation Desert Storm for 197 days and then retired again from the Coast Guard in 1997. 

Roy was most proud to be a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. There was no greater joy in his life than his family, and he and Claudia visited Tennessee frequently over the years to attend the countless events of their grandchildren.   

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Claudia Owens; daughter, Dawn Thigpen (Jim) of Johnson City, TN; three grandchildren, Owen Thigpen (Brittany), Matthew Thigpen, and Hannah Thigpen; great-grandson, Gray Thigpen; siblings, Marilyn Owens, Onda Greene (William), Wanda Greene, Gordon Owens (Audette), Phillip Owens (Mary Frances), and Charles Owens (Deborah); sisters-in-laws, Billie Ann Owens, Patricia Owens, Janet Owens and Joan Cribb and many nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father Roy Luther Owens; mother, Nettie Mae Cribb Owens; brothers, Legrand Owens, Lutrell Owens, Randy Owens, and Terry Owens; brothers-in-law, Tom Owens and Jimmy Rowe; sisters-in-law, Linda Rowe and Nancy Owens.  

Memorials may be made to Harbor View Presbyterian Church.