Robert L. Owens

Published 12:01 am Saturday, September 12, 2015

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Feb. 6, 1938 – Sept. 10, 2015

NATCHEZ — Memorial services for Robert L. “Red” Owens, 76, who died Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time Sunday at the funeral home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Mr. Owens was born Feb. 6, 1928, in Charleston, the son of Lamar Quinn Owens and Mary Moore Owens.

He was educated in the Charleston Public Schools. He played on the varsity high school football team beginning in the eighth grade and lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track for four years. He also played in the school band.

In 1956, he entered the University of Mississippi on a full football scholarship. He played at tackle on “The Team of the Decade” No. 78 from 1956-1960. In the fall of 1961, he coached the Ole Miss freshman team. His tales of the gridiron entertained his students, then inspired players he coached and amused his family and friends. Although Johnny Vaught was his primary coach, he especially remembered Wobble Davidson and the Kinards.

While practice teaching at Natchez High School in 1961, he met his future wife, Martha Jane “Jay” Peeler from Shaw, who was teaching English there. They were married in Shaw on Dec. 27, 1963, three days after Red was released from active military alert, two days after the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba.

Red served two years of active U.S. Army duty at Fort Benning, Ga., and at Fort Ord, Calif., where he, in his free time, scouted for the Carmel High School football team. In 1964, he was honorably discharged with the rank of 1st Lt. Returning to Natchez, he coached the Montebello-Morgantown Raiders, the Martin Chiefs, and the Natchez-Adams County High School Rebels. Later as a volunteer coach at Trinity Episcopal Day School, he continued enjoying his favorite sport.

Moving into administration in the public schools, he was principal of Martin Junior High School for more than 30 years. From 1990 to 1995, he served as headmaster at Trinity Episcopal Day School. He had earned a master’s degree in educational administration at the University of Mississippi in 1966. He completed other advanced courses at Mississippi Southern University.

Honors and special recognition were conferred by the Joe Fortunato Celebrity Golf Tournament, Miss-Lou Chapter of the Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Distinguished American Award. He also received the Eagle-Day Bill Wade All-American Foundation Unsung Hero Award. He officiated in football, girls’ softball, girls’ and boys’ basketball for generations of children in the Miss-Lou.

He served as a board member of the Natchez Port Authority. He was also a member of the Sunday school class of the First Baptist Church.

Noted for his grilling skills, he enjoyed cooking competitions, both winning and losing. Local citizens enjoyed his skills at fundraisers, wedding receptions, Pilgrimage parties and balls and the Natchez Food and Wine Festivals. Known as a grill master, he enjoyed this hobby. Additionally, he gardened with friends year-round.

He regularly volunteered to assist in a variety of functions, from city organized events to down-the-street barbecues. Red never shied away from helping friends, neighbors and all those in need.

Our deepest gratitude to physicians and nursing staff at Merit Hospital in Natchez and to his physicians and nursing staff at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Catherine Hardy; two nephews, Michael Hardy, all of Charleston, and nephew, Joseph Glenn Peeler III of Shaw.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Martha; one son, Robert Glenn Owens and wife, Marianna, of Brandon; one brother-in-law, Dr. Joseph Glenn Peeler and wife, Natalie, of Shaw; one niece, Alline Peeler Somlai and husband, Louis, of Indianapolis, Ind.; and one nephew, Raymond Hardy of Charleston.

Pallbearers will be Bingo Starr, Louis Somlai, Brian Mulhearn, Dunbar Bunch, Kenny Carlton, Douglas Hosford, Fred Maier, Robert Barret, Allen Brown and Charles Feltus.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.