Dr. James R. Owings Sr.

1907 - 2011

Dr. James R. Owings, Sr.

Greenville

Dr. James Rembert Owings, Sr., 103, of Greenville passed from this life on Saturday, April 16, 2011 after a brief illness at home.

He was born in Fort Mill, S.C. on July 8, 1907 and was the son of the late Reverend Wain Marvin Owings and Lora Rebecca Patterson Owings. "Knotty", as he was called by his friends and family, was a graduate of Wofford, Class of 1929. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. At the time of his death he was the oldest Wofford Alumnus. He received his DDS degree from Atlanta Southern Dental College and was a member of Xi Psi Phi dental fraternity. During WWII, he was a Major in the Army Air Corps' dental service. It was during this time he became interested in the emerging field of periodontal dentistry. Following the war he began training in this area and limited his practice to periodontology. He was the earliest practitioner of periodontology in the upstate S.C. and was recognized as a pioneer in the field.

Dr. Owings was a former President of the Greenville Dental Society, the South Carolina Dental Association and the Southern Academy of Periodontology. He was a fellow of the American College of Dentist and a fellow of the International College of Dentist. In 2001, the American College of Dentistry Foundation recognized Dr. Owings with their Distinguished Service Award.

As a founding member of Trinity United Methodist Church, he was a steadfast supporter serving on the first Board of Stewards and in many other capacities during the past 64 years.

He was predeceased in life by his wife of 67 years, Lillian Pruitt Owings, his brothers, Dr. Ralph Seer Owings, Dr. Francis Preston Owings, Dr. Marvin Alpheus Owings and sister, Martha Rebecca White.

Surviving are his sons, Dr. James Rembert Owings, Jr. and his wife, Mary of Greenville, Robert Pruitt Owings of California, daughter, Susan Owings Way and her husband, Jim of Greenville, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Friends are invited to visit with the family Monday evening, April 18th from six until eight o'clock at The Mackey Mortuary, 311 Century Drive, Greenville.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning, April 19th at eleven o'clock at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2703 Augusta Street, Greenville. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 2703 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29605. The Mackey Mortuary.