Gene T. Ownbey, Sr.

Pfafftown - Gene Thomas Ownbey, Sr., age 72, was called home to be with the Lord December 21,2014. Mr. Ownbey was born March 16, 1942 in Buncombe County to the late Clenard Franklin and Mary Idella Ownbey. He was a 1960 graduate of Biltmore High School, was an honors graduate of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Institute and graduated magna cum laude from Western Carolina University. Mr. Ownbey served in the U. S. Air Force and was employed by the Ecusta Paper Company in Pisgah Forest, N.C. for 20 years before relocating to Winston-Salem in 1988. He worked for R.J. Reynolds until 2003 before retiring. Mr. Ownbey is survived by his bride, lover, friend, & life companion of 49 years Shirley Louise Rhymer Ownbey, 2 sons and their families: Gene Ownbey, Jr., wife Angela, grandchildren Brett, Katie, Hannah and Luke of Greer, S.C., and Steven Sean Ownbey, wife Cyndee, and grandsons Nicholas and Cameron of Charlotte, N.C. Mr. Ownbey was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Winston-Salem and the Petree Bible Fellowship Class. Gene was a loving husband & father & granddad. He was mostly known for his gift of being able to build & repair anything to perfection. He was a jack of all trades & knew something about everything. He had a wonderful gift when it came to praying that he himself did not even realize. When he prayed it would touch everyones heart. He will be missed by all that knew and loved him but we will see him again someday. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 1:45 pm on Tuesday December 23, 2014 at Anders-Rice Funeral Home, 1428 Patton Avenue., Asheville, N.C. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm with the Rev. Gene Ownbey, Jr. (son) officiating. Family burial at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Candler, N.C. will take place after the funeral. Memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 101 Hospice Ln, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.