Ray Carroll Pop Owens

Mr. Ray Carroll "Pop" Owens, age 83, of Rome, passed away on Monday morning, May 29, 2017, following a brief illness.

Ray was born on Little Sand Mountain in Chattooga County, GA, on February 28, 1934, a son of the late William Leonard "W.L." Owens and Bertha Caldwell Owens. He had lived most of his life in Rome and Floyd County and was a veteran of the United States Army. Ray retired from Bagby Transfer and Storage Company in 2000 after being associated with them for over 40 years. He was an active member of the New Armuchee Baptist Church where he served for many years as a deacon. Ray enjoyed bowling and was inducted into the Rome Bowling Association Hall of Fame. For many years he coached little league baseball and loved to frequent estate sales and yard sales. Ray was married on December 22, 1955, to Thelma Kinsey Owens, and she preceded him in death on May 23, 2011. Also preceding him in death were his parents and a brother, David Deforrest "Pete" Owens.

Ray is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Vicki Owens of Armuchee, GA; two grandsons and their wives, Justin and Alexa Owens, and Tyler and Brinkley Owens, all of Armuchee; three great-grandchildren, Violet, Olivia and Isaac Owens; a brother and sister-in-law, Kelly and Frances Owens, also of Armuchee. Several other relative and friends also survive.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon, June 1, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. in the New Armuchee Baptist Church with Pastor, Dr. David Howard, officiating. Interment will follow in the Little Sand Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour at the New Armuchee Baptist Church.

Pallbearers are asked to meet at the church on Thursday by 2:00 p.m. and include Robert Shiflett, Claude Kail, Marion Broome, Justin Owens, Tyler Owens, Eddy Holsomback and Marc Weeks.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial contributions be made to the New Armuchee Baptist Church General Fund.

Please visit www.salmonfuneralhome.com to share memories and post tributes.

The staff of Salmon Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Ray Carroll "Pop" Owens.