William Russell Owens III

William Russell Owens III, 24, of Lima, died at 6:43 p.m., Sunday, July 1, 2012, at his residence. He was born November 12, 1987, in Lima to William Russell and Faith Lynn (Braun) Owens Jr. His father and stepmother, Mary survive in Lima and his mother preceded him in death in 2006.

William was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army after serving one enlistment, which included a tour of duty in Seoul, S. Korea. He graduated from basic training at Ft. Jackson, Columbia, SC and graduated A.I.T. training at Ft. Gordon, GA. He was discharged from McChord A.F.B., WA. He was a member of the 369 Battalion Signal Corps. He was in the funeral detail at Ft. McChord where he played taps for his fallen comrades.

He was a 2007 graduate of Lima Senior High, where he was on the football and wrestling teams and was a member of the marching band and symphonic band. He was able to participate in the Lima Senior High Marching Band trip to Edinborough, Scotland, to march in their parade. Upon graduation, he was the only student to receive a $67,500 G.I. scholarship. He was a member of the National Honor Society and had been on the Honor Roll since he was in third grade. He was selected to give a speech in Columbus for the “No Child Left Behind” and was a finalist in the Laws of Life contest. He had attended Rhodes State College and was studying early childhood. He loved all children.

He participated in Little League Baseball in Lima. For ten years before his mother, Faith, passed, beginning at the age of 7, he would spend the majority of his time caring for her while she was confined to Plus Healthcare Nursing Home, Lima. He was blessed with the art of origami and used the gift to make a wind chime of paper cranes to send to a cancer patient in Japan. He had been a guest of Independence Elementary to help teach origami classes and would make origami for everyone he met.

Also surviving are a son, Micah Spencer Osterhout-Owens of Lima; two brothers: Steven J. (Mai) Carmean of Lima and Daniel Lee (Tonya) Carmean of Lakeview; a sister, Vaneesa Renee (Shane) Jacobs of Lima; a lifelong brother and Aztec Warrior, Aaron Torres of Lima; and his adopted mother, Mama Lopez of Lima; grandfather, Floyd Braun and grandmother, June Kline both of St. Marys; aunts and uncles: Bertha, Diane, Grace, Delorse, Louvica, Kenny and Willie “Duke” all of Lima; Ann, John and Bill of St. Marys; Kim of Toledo, Nan and Merdi both of Celina, Barb of Melbourne, FL, and Ross of London, OH a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, William R. Owens, Sr., Fannie Marie Owens and Arlene (Folk) Braun; and uncles, Ward and Glenn.

Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. Friday, July 6, 2012 at Greater Christ Temple, 511 E. Second St., Lima, with Rev. Michael Cooper officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military graveside rites by V.F.W. Post 1275.

Visitation will be on Thursday, from 2-4, and 6-8 p.m. at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Arrangements are under the direction of Siferd-Orians Funeral Home.

Condolences may be expressed at www.siferd-oriansfuneralhome.com