Oscar Owings

Oscar Curt Owings Jr., age 86, of Paducah, Ky., formerly of Memphis, Tenn., died Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 31, 2010, at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner and Orr with Rev. Joe Beal and Mike Gentry officiating. Burial will follow at Maplelawn Park Cemetery in Paducah.

Curt retired as a Telegraph Agent with Illinois Central Railroad after 35 years service. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army who served in the 188th Parachute Infantry, 11th Airborne Division. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars; American Theater Ribbon; Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star; Good Conduct Ribbon and Distinguished Unit Citation.

He is survived by his wife and companion of 30 years, Barbara Jeu Owings; his children, Mike Owings and wife Glenda of Bay St. Louis, Miss., Donnie Owings of Memphis, Tenn., Charlotte Mason of West Memphis, Ark., and Amy Schilling of Memphis, Tenn.; his stepchildren, Robert Taylor and wife Crystal of Paducah, Terry Jeu of Memphis, Tenn., Donald Taylor of Nashville, Tenn., Cynthia DeMorse and husband Mike of Memphis, Tenn., and Barbara Musick and husband Bob of Olive Branch, Miss.; his sister, Johnnie Lou Sawyer and husband Charles of Paducah; nine grandchildren; 12 stepgrandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces.

Curt was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar Curtis and Gladys Weaks Owings; one daughter, Janet Louise Howell; and one sister, Willa Sue Smith.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday, July 30, 2010, at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner and Orr.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.

You may light a candle or leave a message of comfort at milnerandorr.com.