Franklin Owen

Canton-Franklin "Bruce" Owen formerly of Norfolk, Virginia died Monday, September 9, 2002 at Silver Bluff Nursing Home.

He was a native of Haywood County but had lived in Norfolk, Virginia for over fifty years. He was the son of the late R. Joyce and Gussie Robinson Owen and was the husband of Mildred J. Owen who died on April 17, 2002. He was also preceded in death by two brothers; Bill and Earl Owen. He graduated from Canton High School and obtained a Law degree and a Masters in Education. He taught in the Norfolk Public School system for 20 years. He retired from the U.S. Navy with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer, after 33 years of service. He served in World War II as a fighter pilot. He was also a veteran of the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. He was commissioned on the U.S.S. Bunker Hill and the U.S.S. Forrestall. He was a lifelong member of the Retired Officer Association, was a commercial aircraft pilot and a past member of the aircraft pilot and owner's association.

He is survived by three sisters; Nancy Ford and her husband Frank of Canton, Violet Bramlett and her husband Vaughn of Clyde and Joyce Cathey and her husband Robert of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p. m. Thursday, September 12, 2002 at Plains United Methodist Church Cemetery with the Reverend Bruce Cayton officiating. Military honors will follow. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home in Canton prior to the graveside service. At other times the family will be at the residence of Frank and Nancy Ford, 50 Ford Hollow, Canton, NC 28716.

Flowers would be appreciated or memorials may be made to Plains United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, C/0 Maxine Kingsland, P.O. Box 42, Canton, NC 28716.

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