Watt H Ownby

Watt Henry Ownby, 92, a resident of Bradley County passed away Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at the home of his granddaughter Lisa. Mr. Ownby graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1940 where he was a 3-year letterman in baseball, basketball, and football. He was a starting member of the very first state championship basketball team. He is an inductee in both the Old Timers Hall of Fame and the Bradley Central Hall of Fame. He retired from Earnest Holmes Wrecker Company after over 40 years of service. He was also a farmer his entire life and raised beef cattle. He was a loving father, grandfather, husband and friend to all who knew him. He was a member of Goodwill Baptist Church where he was a deacon for 50 years. He was preceded in death by his father and mother Ashley L. and Eva Wheeler Ownby, his wife of 65 years Dorotha Breeden Ownby, sisters Alta Montgomery, Edith Berry, Theresa Taylor, infant sister Zora, and brothers Taft, Estel (Bunt), Orvil, Donald, Lee, A.L., and Homer. He is survived by his sons Dwight Ownby and wife Betty of Alabama and Gary Ownby of Cleveland; daughter-in-law Susan Ownby of Cleveland; grandchildren Daron and wife Sylvia, Yancy and wife Jan, Corey and wife Kim, Lisa Colgan and husband Keith, and Lane and wife Teri; 10 great grandchildren; one brother Ray and wife Myrtle Ownby; sisters Mary Ownby Wooten, Gladys Ownby Kirkpatrick, and Ruth Ownby; sisters-in-law Grace Ownby, Frankie Ownby, Zeta Moore, and Oleta Ownby; and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at 2 pm in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home. Martha Montgomery Frazier will speak and Eva Conner will provide music. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens concluding with a white dove release ceremony. Pallbearers will be Lane Ownby, Donnie Ownby, Daron Ownby, Kent Sharpton, Tylan Davis, Shawn Davis, Ryan Ownby, Corey Ownby, and Yancy Ownby. The family will receive friends Monday, December 14, 2009, from 4 – 8 pm at the funeral home. The family requests memorials be made to Family Hospice. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Ownby family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com