James "J.R." Owenby, Jr.

Leicester - James Rufus J.R. Owenby, Jr., 72, died Saturday April 3, 2010 at his home. A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, he had wintered in Cape Coral, FL for the past 18 years. He had been a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church since 1949 where he had served as a Deacon, Youth Director and served in various other church offices. He was a graduate of UNCA and Penn State University. He retired from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce after 33 1/2 years of service as a Scientific Meteorologist. In 1974 he was the Mayors Committee of Asheville Outstanding Employee and in 1976 he was the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Handicap Employee of the year. Mr. Owenby also was the founder of Door Openers, an organization that helped make the streets and businesses in downtown Asheville handicapped accessible. He was the son of the late Rufus Owenby Sr. and Oma Owenby. Surviving are his wife, Regina Owenby of the home; cousins, H.M. Rogers and wife Tilda of Leicester and Monty Rogers and wife Beth of Leicester and several other cousins. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home with the Rev. Bobby Smith officiating. Burial will be in Green Hills Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11:00 A. M. Monday at the funeral home.