William H. Owen III

FAYETTEVILLE - William H. "Bill" Owen III, 78, of 3300 Guy Circle, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, in Berean Baptist Church at 517 Glensford Drive, with Pastor Sean Harris officiating and Dr. Ralph Richardson sharing. Burial will follow in Camp Ground United Methodist Church, where young Billy attended as the grandson of founding members Mr. and Mrs. William H. Owen Sr. on Camp Ground Road. In 1945, Bill began his 52-year-long career with The Fayetteville Observer. Following his newspaper career, Bill served at Village Baptist Church as the project manager for its education wing and as the church administrator from 2000 to 2007. Bill was also a licensed general contractor and had just renewed his license to oversee a mission house renovation project at Berean. Bill will be remembered as a man of integrity who loved to rise to the "it can't be done" challenge. Bill was a humble, godly man who loved and served his Lord, church, community and family for life. He was always learning and was never content to not be doing something - everything was done with excellence to the glory of God. He was a faithful husband, father, brother, grandfather, mentor and prayer warrior throughout his full life. Bill will always be remembered as "daddy" and "daddygrand" to his family and friends in Fayetteville. Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ann Owen; two daughters, Cindy Wright and husband Charles of Columbia, S.C., and Beth Thornton of Fayetteville; two sisters, Ethel Harris Kyle and Kitty Davis and husband John; and seven grandchildren, Heather and husband Casey, Haigh and wife Laura, Maggie and husband Loren, and Philip; and brother-in-law, Steve Beck and wife Jodie. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p,m. today, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Berean Baptist Church chapel. Condolences may be sent through jerniganwarren.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Berean Baptist Missions House, 517 Glensford Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28314. Services entrusted to Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home of Fayetteville.