W.R. “Runt” Owings, 94, of Paris, passed away Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, at Paris Regional Medical Center.
Services are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10th, at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Duane Hamil officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Runt, the son of William Roy & Mary Lillian Owings, was born Sept. 16, 1920, in Paris. He attended Fourth Ward School and Paris High School.
He was a hard worker throughout his life starting early mowing yards, milking cows and throwing newspapers. He later became manager over the circulation department of The Paris News.
During the 1940’s he drove a cab and also a city bus, many times transporting the soldiers to and from Camp Maxey on Saturday nights. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1944, and was sent to Austria preparing to go to the front lines. The day before leaving peace was declared. He then became a Master Sgt. & was in charge of the transportation. Before leaving the Army, a general asked him to drive him all over Europe just sightseeing, so he was able to visit many European countries; Italy, Germany, Switzerland & Sweden to name a few.
After returning from the service to Paris, he began his lifelong employment of driving cattle trucks, driving for Paris Grocer Company, Red Ball Motor Freight, Strickland Freight Lines, Fine Freight Lines, retiring from Yellow Freight Lines while in his 80’s. During all of this time and many miles, he never had an accident.
He had a passion and a love for horses that started when he was about six months old when his dad put him on a horse for the first time. He loved working with the Paris Rodeo & Horse Club of which he was the last surviving founding member. In his younger years he was a calf roper on the rodeo circuit. In his later years, during the late spring and summer you would find him at a rodeo somewhere. He has trained horses and taught many how to ride, always thinking first of their safety.
Other loves of his life were his family and friends. Each one was important to him. He lived his life giving of himself. He was a member of The Cowboy Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, James R. “Rusty” Owings and a daughter, Elaina Hutto.
He is survived by three sons, Roy Owings & wife Linda of Grand Prairie, Gary Owings & wife Brenda of Paris and Brian Owings & wife Margaret of Brookston, 6 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, two sisters, Clara Porteous of Paris and Barbara Curtis of Ft. Worth, several nieces & nephews along with a plethora of friends.
Casket bearers will be: Jerry Thompson, Larry Bramhall, Lonnie Finch, Brad Bankston, Mike Goss & Eddie Baker.
To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com.
