William "Bill" Mead Owens

WILLIAM MEAD "BILL" OWENS, 89, of Little Rock, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, passed away Thursday, May 19, 2011. Born Sept. 18, 1921 in Sulphur Rock, Ark., he was married to his highschool sweetheart, Jerry Owens, for 64 years. A World War II veteran, he served with the Army in the Pacific with Company E of the 542nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment. He proudly served with the Little Rock Fire Department, retiring as a captain in 1964. He spent the next 30 years working in road construction as a road grader operator. He was a faithful member of Geyer Springs First Baptist Church for over 50 years and served several terms as a deacon. He is preceded in death by his wife, Jerry Owens; his parents, B.B. and Mattie Owens, and his siblings, Alton Owens, George Owens, Merle Head, Ruth Adams and Altha Pitchford. Mr. Owens is survived by his son, Bill Owens, of Ypsilanti, Mich.; daughter, Susie Shumaker and her husband, Bud, of Little Rock; grandchildren, Karen Shumaker of Athens, Ga. and Kevin Shumaker of North Little Rock, Ark.; and brother, TJ Owens of Batesville, Ark.; as well as extended family and many good friends. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 23, 2011, at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, with Dr. Paul Sanders and Reverend Jeff Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, May 22, 2011, at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 5800 W. 12th, Little Rock, 661-9111. Memorials may be made to Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 31510, Little Rock, Ark. 72260. www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.