GARY W. OWENS

Gary W. Owens, 89, of Dunbar, passed away, Monday, April 24, 2023, in Marquis Gardens Place, Uniontown, PA. 
He was born on January 3, 1934, in Dunbar, PA, to the late Regis Owens and the late Veronica “Bonnie” (Younkin) Owens McClain.
He was a member of St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in Dunbar. 
A cable splicer and engineer, Gary spent 37 years working for Bell Telephone/Verizon until his retirement in 1989. 
Gary served in the United States Army, where he completed his basic training in Ft. Knox, Kentucky. At one point, his career took him to White Sands, NM, and eventually Company B 429th Engineering Battalion in Brownsville, PA. Upon his honorable discharge from active duty, Gary re-enlisted with the National Guard and the Army Reserves, retiring in 1994. 
Additionally, Gary served as Commander of the Dunbar American Legion where he was involved with the parades and community service projects. He was a member of the Dunbar Lions Club; President of the Dunbar Community Development Corporation; volunteered for the Boy Scouts; was instrumental in starting the Dunbar Community Library and overall loved the community of Dunbar. 
He liked to take family vacations to Myrtle Beach and Oahu, Hawaii. 
Gary is survived by his wife of 63 years, Beverly “Bev” (Hagerman) Owens; children Linda (Dave) Thomson, Scott (Mary) Owens, Brian (Sherry) Owens and Shelley Keffer and fiancé Ed Heiser; grandchildren, Molly Thomson, Laura (Zack) Chylinski, Austin Owens and fiancee Jess Cummings and Anna Keffer; great-granddaughter Hadley Rose Chylinski and sister, Shirley (Richard) Johnson.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, William “Bill” McClain, grandmother, Anna Younkin who raised him; granddaughter, Emma Lynn Thomson and his aunt and uncle, Joseph and Anastasia “Tee” Panone who were also instrumental in his upbringing. 
Friends will be received Wednesday, May 24, 2023, from 2pm-3pm at Burhans-Crouse Funeral Home, 28 Connellsville St. Dunbar, followed by the Memorial Service at 3pm with Pastor Lee Maley officiating. Additionally, inurnment at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, PA, will take place with military honors accorded by Hopwood AMVETS Post 103 on Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Gary’s name be made to the Dunbar Community Library, or the Dunbar American Legion. 
The family would like to thank caregivers from AHN Hospice, Amedisys Hospice, and Marquis Gardens for their dedication and compassion.
Condolences for the family may be left at www.burhanscrousefuneralhome.com or on the funeral home’s Facebook page, @burhanscrouse.

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