Irene R Ownby

Irene Ruth Ownby

01/25/1929-08/07/2019

Irene Ruth Moon Ownby, 90 years old, passed away on August 7, 2019 at the McLeod Hospice House in Florence, SC. A graveside memorial service celebrating her life will be held later on November 5, 2019, at Woodlawn Cemetery, 4500 Woodlawn Pike, Knoxville, TN. Officiating will be Rev. Gene Hurley, Associate Pastor of City View Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN and her son-in-law, Rev. Allen Campbell, Associate Pastor of Worship, Central Baptist Church, Darlington, SC. Directing the graveside service will be her grandsons, Ryan and Jonathan Campbell. Belk Funeral Home, Darlington, SC, will be handling her cremation and her ashes will be buried beside her late husband.

Born January 25, 1929, Sevierville, TN, she is the daughter of the late Crockett and Verna Moon. She graduated from the National Business College, Knoxville, TN. She worked for the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in the Records Office for over 20 years.

She is predeceased in death by her husband of 61 years, Dewey Ownby, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ida and Eldridge Ownby, Sevierville, TN, sister-in-law, Buena Ownby  and brother-in-law, Clyde Ownby, Sevierville, TN,  sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Velma and Estell Tarwater, Sevierville, TN, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Alma and Kenneth Rule, Sevierville, TN, brother-in-law, Frank Whaley, Knoxville, TN, brother-in-law, Weirnell Underwood, Knoxville, TN, brother-in-law, Jimmy Sampley, Knoxville, TN, and infant sister, Helen Moon.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Tommy and Robin Ownby of Williamsburg, VA, daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Allen Campbell of Florence, SC. She is also survived in death by several grandchildren: Captain Jonathan Campbell (Sloan) of Ft. Hood, TX, Ryan Campbell (Nicole) of Summerville, SC, Grace Ownby of Williamsburg, VA, Jordan Ownby of Chesapeake, VA, grandsons Bradley, Nathan, Chad, Jeremy, Justin, and Geoffrey Ownby and their families in various locales. Additionally, she is survived by sisters, Beulah Underwood (Weirnell) and Mildred Sampley (Jimmy), both of Knoxville, TN, sister-in-law, Maxine Whaley (Frank), Knoxville, TN, sister-in-law, Helen Ownby (Clyde), Sevierville, TN. She has several great-grandchildren: Gaines and Malakai Campbell, Emily and Nathan Campbell, and several other great-grandchildren. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Irene and her late husband of 61 years, Dewey, lived in Knoxville, TN for the better part of their marriage. In late 2013, they moved to Chesapeake, VA, to be near their children. She was a member of Sevier Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN, for over 73 years; where she was faithful and loved singing in the choir along with her late husband. Irene and her husband were avid Tennessee Vols fans and loved attending football and basketball games. They also travelled to many bowl games with friends. Upon retirement she and her husband enjoyed their time together traveling all over the world. Irene had quite a green thumb with the planting and cultivating of gorgeous flower beds in the 2 homes that she and her husband lived. At one time she was in the garden club and some of her flowers even won ribbons at the local Agricultural County fair. Irene and Dewey’s 2nd Knoxville home was featured on HGTV at one time for its flower garden. She was a wonderful cook and loved cooking for her family and friends. She was especially known for her citrus tea at which many friends would often stop by her home just to have a glass. She was also quite the lover of her great-granddogs and great-grandcats.

During the last 3 years, Irene was a charter resident of Willow Creek Independent Retirement Living, Chesapeake, VA, where she was well loved by management and other residents.

Special Thanks to: Dr. David Palmisano, Hanbury Family Medicine, and his staff in Chesapeake, VA; Medi Home Health & Hospice in Chesapeake, VA; McLeod Hospice House in Florence, SC; and also, the management of Willow Creek Independent Retirement Living, Chesapeake, VA, Glenn and Valerie Campbell and Randy and Kathy Hall.

Memorials may be made to Central Baptist Church, 512 Spring St., Darlington, SC 29532; or to McLeod Hospice House, PO Box 100551, Florence, SC, 29502.

Isaiah 41:10: Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Irene R Ownby, please visit our floral store.