Roy Owens Obituary (1933 - 2014)

Roy B. Owens, age 81, of Conyers, died Wednesday, October 29, 2014. Roy was always a "go getter" during his working career. When he retired as a regional manager with Westinghouse Corporation there was no way he was going to find a rocker and do some porch sitting. Roy went to the Board of Commissioners for Rockdale County and said he wanted to volunteer for some citizen boards. That was when the county had voted for a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST). The commissioners checked out Roy and put him on the committee for roads. That was just the beginning. From 1998 until 2008, Roy served on every SPLOST committee. For several years he was the chairman of the citizen oversight committee. After the initial roads tax, the purpose was expanded to include many more high impact projects. He was there for new fire stations, an expanded library, enhanced parks and recreation venues, then came two crowning facilities that had the greatest impact on our county. Roy led the citizen committee as it brought into reality a new jail and sheriff's office complex on Chambers Drive. The greatest project was the building of a new fresh water treatment plant. Not only did the citizen committee deliver a new water treatment plant but it was under budget and with engineering enhancement had a greater treatment capacity that originally designed. Roy had the honor of being one of the people who opened the valve to deliver to the residents of Rockdale County a tremendous supply of drinking water. So every time you enjoy the benefits of a SPLOST project, just remember the old "git up and go" that Roy brought to these county citizen's boards. Roy also served as president of the South Rockdale Civic Association, chairman of the Rockdale Republican Party, and as a member of Kiwanis Club-one year as a Lt. Governor. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Beth; son Michael Owens of Conyers; grandson, Chancellor Owens of Conyers; sister, Carrole Gibboney of Conyers; several nieces, nephews and cousins. A funeral service will be held 2 o'clock, Friday, October 31, in the chapel of Henry Funeral Home, Lithonia, with Dr. Jim Martin and Rev. Robert Lindsay officiating. Interment will follow at the Lithonia City Cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or contributions may be made in his memory to the First Baptist Church of Lithonia, P.O. Box 378, Lithonia, GA 30058. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Henry Funeral Home, Lithonia. 770-482-4411. henryfuneral.com