Owen C. Williams

Owen Williams, age 76, died Monday, February 16, 2015 in Sterling House of Urbana. He was born May 7, 1938 in Versailles, IN, the son of Dr. Alton Gayle and Ruth Ann (Ritz) Williams. Owen was a graduate of Versailles High School, Franklin College of Franklin, IN and the Indiana College of Mortuary Science, receiving his funeral directors and embalming license on June 9, 1960. He was a member of the Versailles Lodge No. 7 F & AM, Versailles, IN and the Indianapolis Valley Scottish Rite. He first went into business for himself when he purchased the Gambles store in Wapakoneta in June 1965. He later sold that location and moved his family to purchase the Gambles store in downtown Urbana in 1969. Three years later, he sold the Gambles store and established Williams Tru Value on Scioto Street, opening on Monday, April 10, 1972. He changed hardware suppliers over the years, purchasing from Ace Hardware and then H.W.I. (Do It Best Corp.). Owen was an avid baseball fan, stemming from his childhood days of watching the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field. He was a devoted husband and cherished his family, putting them above all else. He and Linda loved to travel and they wholeheartedly supported the Rocking Horse Center of Springfield and the Salvation Army. He is survived by his children, Gayle, Cathy Bowden and husband Keith and Doug and wife Lori; grandchildren, Chase Williams, Lacy (Ryan) Dunlavy, Morgan Phelps, Olivia Williams, and Aubrey Williams; and one great-grandchild, Isla Williams. Owen was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 55 years, Linda Kay (Smith) Williams on November 19, 2014. The family will receive friends from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2015 in the WALTER & SMITH FUNERAL HOME, Urbana, where a memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Miami Valley, 46 N. Detroit St., Xenia, OH 45385 or to the Rocking Horse Center, 651 S. Limestone St., Springfield, OH 45505. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.walterfunerals.com.