Harry Eugene "Gene" Owens

1942 - 2013

Harry Eugene "Gene" Owens of Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee in Greensboro, GA, died Monday, December 23, 2013 at his residence surrounded by loved ones. Gene was born in Ottawa, IL on June 23, 1942 to the late James Luther Owens and Margaret Elizabeth DeCoursey.

He graduated from Ottawa Township High School and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering at Colorado State University at Fort Collins, Colorado and his Masters in Business from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He proudly served his country in the United States Army for thirteen years, where he served tours of duty in Korea, Germany and Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for his "more than twenty five aerial missions over hostile territory" during a 20 day period in January, 1969. Cancer, which took his life at the age of 71, has been attributed by the VA to his exposure to Agent Orange during this tour of duty in Vietnam. Gene was an Engineer for Digital Equipment Corp. and later Quantum Corp. retiring from Seagate Corp. in 2010. He married the former Ilse Wichmann on October 25, 1969. In May of this year they moved to Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee in Greensboro, GA from Colorado Springs, Colorado to be close to his brother and family, Jim and Carol Owens. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Greensboro. He derived much pleasure in golfing, bike riding, skiing, reading and taking pictures of his cat, Pepper. Most of all he and his wife, Ilse, enjoyed touring and sightseeing throughout the great state of Colorado.



In addition to his wife of forty-four years, Ilse Owens of Reynolds Plantation Greensboro, GA, he is survived by a brother, Jim Owens and wife Carol Owens of Greensboro, GA; niece, Dr. Julie Politi and her husband Dr. Joel Politi of Columbus, OH; nephew, Greg Owens and his wife Michelle Owens of Apex, NC; his beloved cat, Pepper; other relatives and many friends. He was predeceased by his pet dog, Gypsy and a pet cat, Chief Inspector Clouseau.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church North Campus, 202 W. Broad Street, Greensboro, GA with Pastor Merry Grayson officiating. The family will receive friends at a reception after the service at the Family Life Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Relay For Life, c/o First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 216, Greensboro, GA 30642 or the Oconee Regional Humane Society, http://www.orhspets.org, 6350 Lake Oconee Parkway #102, Greensboro, GA 30642, Tel: (706) 454-1508. McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of local arrangements. Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.