William "Harold" Owens

William Harold Owens, born March 31, 1936, passed into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 25, 2025, at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife, Ethelyn Brown Owens, the love of his life, with whom he shared 69 years of marriage.
Harold was a native of Seneca, S.C. and attended Seneca Senior High School, graduating in the class of 1954. He was the son of the late Floyd S. Owens, former sheriff of Oconee County, and Jeanette L. Owens. In 1958, after graduating from the South Carolina Highway Patrol Training School in Columbia, S.C., (currently South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy), he moved to Greenville County where he began a lifelong career serving with the South Carolina Highway Patrol. While serving with S.C. Highway Patrol, he was awarded the SC Trooper of the Year for District 3 and was a lifetime member of the SC State Troopers Association. After serving with the SC Highway Patrol for over forty years, he retired as Sergeant. Sgt. Owens also served as a member of the SC National Guard for a number of years.
He loved his church, West Gantt First Baptist Church, where he was a member for over sixty years. There he served as Deacon and on various other committees through the years. He was a kind, soft-spoken man who truly lived by the philosophy, "Treat others as you would want to be treated yourself."
Sgt. Owens is survived by his wife and two sons, S. Kent Owens (Carole Ann), Greenville, S.C. and Roger D. Owens (Charlotte), Seneca, S.C. He is also survived by his pride and joy, five grandchildren, William H. "Will" Owens (Lauren), Anna Owens Ornelas (Anthony), of Greenville, S.C., Carly Owens Shaltaf (Nas), Nashville, TN, Dustin B. Owens (Amanda) of Smyrna, GA, and Ryan A. Owens (Sarah Bradley), Mount Pleasant, SC. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Tatum, Cade, Ward, and Miller Owens, and Crews Ornelas.
In addition, Sgt. Owens is survived by his sister, Pat Owens Bellotte; and nephews, W. Bryan (Amanda) Bellotte and Greg K. (Elizabeth) Bellotte, all of Seneca, SC; and sister-in-law, Kathryn B. Morgan, Seneca, SC; nephew, Bradley B. Morgan (Denise) of Big Canoe, GA. Also, sister-in-law, Linda W. Owens; and niece, Kim O. (Jeff) Jedlicka, of Seneca, SC.
In addition to his parents, Sgt. Owens was predeceased by his brother, Billy F. Owens, and brothers-in-law, William L. Bellotte and C. Lane Morgan, both of Seneca, SC.
Sgt. Owens' faith was the cornerstone of his life. His love, faith, and loyalty will forever be remembered and cherished in the hearts of his family and his friends.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown, 639 North Main Street, Greenville, SC, from 12:30 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. with the funeral service following at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel, conducted by the Reverend W. Bryan Bellotte and the Reverend Roger Saunders. Burial will be in Greenville Memorial Gardens, 7784 Augusta Road, Piedmont, SC 29673. The South Carolina Highway Patrol Honor Guard will participate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the place of one's choice.