Owen Wallace Fish

Dr. Owen Wallace Fish passed away at home on December 8, 2025 surrounded by his family and caregivers. Dr. Fish was born October 19, 1931, to Orville and Virgie Fish in Luck, North Carolina. He is predeceased in death by his parents; his first wife, Carolyn Ann Gosnell Fish; his second wife, Helen Lewis Fish; and a daughter, Teresa Beck Gutherie.

He is survived by his children and grandchildren from his first marriage to Carolyn Fish, Lisa Fish Oke (Edward), Pamela Fish Parris (Mikel), Tammy Fish Robinson (Richard), Courtney Parris Razo and Kaylee Lauren Parris. In addition, he is survived by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren from his second marriage to Helen Fish, Fredia Beck Higgins (Randy), Billy Beck Jr. (Tracy), Jacqueline Gaines, Josh Meadows, Lauren Higgins, Crystal Thomas, Stephanie Thomas, Billy Beck, Andrew Beck, Ashley Beane, Treavor Thomas, McKala Crump, Aniya Robinson, Isaac Robinson, Israel Meadows, Zeke Thomas, Amira Thomas, Caden Beane, Jaxon Beane, Rose Beane, Israel James Meadows, Romi Praise Meadows, and Luca Beck Meadows.

Dr. Fish was a lifelong learner and educator. He graduated from Spring Creek School located in Spring Creek, NC as Valedictorian in 1949. He then went on to attend WCU Teachers College receiving a BA degree in Education in 1956. While working on his master's degree, he attended Duke University, Vanderbilt University, and UNC-Chapel Hill. When both his parents fell ill, he returned home to Spring Creek, NC and finished his master's degree in education from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. After the death of his first wife, Dr. Fish went back to school and achieved his Doctorate degree in Education in 1979 from the University of Florida at Sarasota, FL.

As an educator, Dr. Fish's life was largely defined by his intelligence and an unrelenting desire to share his knowledge with the people of Madison County. He began his career as a business teacher at Erwin High School and Spring Creek High School from 1953 until 1957. He then was elevated to Principal of Spring Creek High School serving in that capacity from 1958 until 1963. In addition, he served as Principal of Laurel High School from 1963 until 1967. In 1967 he was appointed Director of Federal programs for Madison County Schools. He served in that capacity until retirement in 1994. He had served in the Madison County School system for 41 years before entering the private sector. From 1994 until the present, he pursued several careers. He worked as a tax preparer, realtor, and builder. As the owner of Fish Builders and Realty, LLC, he built 77 homes for residents in Madison and Buncombe County.

Despite participation in numerous fulfilling careers, Dr. Fish's greatest love and achievement was his dedication to God, family, his church and spreading the word of Jesus Christ through word and song. He was a member at his death of Newfound Baptist Church. He served as an ordained Deacon and Sunday School teacher for over 40 years. He served as a member of Gideons International since 1982. In addition, Dr. Fish was gifted with a beautiful bass voice and sang professionally for 7 years with the Gospel Messengers, a southern gospel quartet from Greeneville, TN. Thereafter he performed with the Belva Baptist Church Quartet. His true passion in life was for Southern Gospel Music and the spreading of Christ's word through the Gideons International.

During the last 4 years of his life, he was surrounded by his family of caregivers, Cindy Fox, Janice Stephenson, Bailey Ware, and Amy Messer. He was a resident of Buncombe County, North Carolina at his death and had lived in Madison County most of his life. The family would like to give special thanks to Four Seasons Hospice for the care they gave Dr. Fish.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: The Gideons International, Madison County Camp, PO Box 1182, Marshall, NC 28753.

The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 PM, with funeral services to be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday December 13, 2025, at Newfound Baptist Church, Leicester, NC. Reverend Gordon Ball will officiate; Larry Plemmons and Mikel Parris will be assisting with the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.