William Dennis Owens

William Dennis (Bill) Owens, 76, a resident of Abingdon, Va., passed away on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at the UVA Hospital in Charlottesville, Va. Bill was born in Russell County, Va., to the late Hobart and Lockie Meade Owens. He was a 1952 graduate of Lebanon High School and attended Bluefield College where he received an associate degree in PreAgriculture. He was a 1957 graduate of Virginia Tech earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry. He worked as a field representative for Pet Milk Company and Dairy Farmers of America for 48 years. After retirement, he enjoyed farming which was his true passion. He attended Fellowship Chapel in Bristol, VA where he was a member of the Berean Sunday School Class. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by two sisters, Gaye Easterly and Faye VanDyke. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Barbara Gose Owens; two daughters, Terry Garrison, of Abingdon, Va., and Karen Owens, of Kernersville, N.C.; four grandsons, Matthew Durrett and wife, Amanda, of Kernersville, N.C., Will Garrison, of Abingdon, Va., Christopher Durrett, of Belens Creek, N.C., and Travis Garrison, of Abingdon, Va.; one niece, Kittye Owens and husband, Charles, of Bristol, Va.; and one brother-in-law, Sam VanDyke, of Abingdon, Va. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the doctors and staff at UVA Hospital and Bristol Regional Medical Center, Dr. Perrie Ryan and staff at Blue Ridge Medical and a special thanks to Connie Limburg for her wonderful care. A graveside funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, in the Knollkreg Memorial Park. Pastor Scott Price will officiate. Family and friends wishing to attend the service are asked to assemble at the cemetery by 10:45 a.m. Active pallbearers will be his grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Berean Sunday School Class at Fellowship Chapel and special friends, Ralph Dean and Virgil Noonkestner. His family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the Frost Funeral Home. Friends may also visit the family at the home of his daughter, Terry Garrison, 21169 Vance Mill Rd., Abingdon, Va. Flowers will be accepted or memorial donations may be made to Fellowship Chapel, 201 Crockett St. Bristol, Va. 24201 or to Haven of Rest Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 372, Bristol, Tenn. 37621 in memory of William Dennis "Bill" Owens. Frost Funeral Home of Abingdon, Va. is honored to serve the family of Mr. Owens and online condolences may be submitted to his family at www.frostfuneralhome.com.