Phillip Lee Ownbey, 80, died on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, after a brief stay at a Chattanooga nursing home.
He was prededed in death by his parents, Helen McArthur Ownbey and Robert L. Ownbey; one brother, Harold Granville Ownbey and his wife Eve Windsor Ownbey of Palm Desert, Cal.; and one sister, Margaret Ownbey Carson and her husband C.A. Carson of Anaheim, Cal.
Born in North Chattanooga, he moved to Bradley County with his family at an early age. As a young man he was a graduate of Arnold School and an Eagle Scout. During World War II, at the age of 16, he joined the army and spent 5 years in the Philippines as a member of the 86th Infantry Division. There he served as driver for the Chief of staff, then became an investigator for the Central Intelligence Division. After leaving the army, he worked for Norfolk Southern Railways for 42 years. At the Debutts location in Chattanooga, TN, he was foreman of the Classification Yard. In Nov. 6, 1981, he survived a 24-car train derailment in Soddy Daisy, Tn. He was a gun collector and an excellent marksman. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he dearly loved his Sunday School class.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jean Lawson Ownbey; one son, Phillip Michael Ownbey and his wife Paulette Sharp Ownbey, of Cleveland; one daughter, Gincy Ownbey May and her husband William R. May, DDS, of Cleveland; four grandsons, Phillip Lee Ownbey, and his wife Jodi Baushka Ownbey, of Orlando, Fla., Jason Charles Ownbey, and his wife Kari Pozzi Ownbey of Orlando, Florida, Judson Kyle Ownbey and his wife Tracey Lee Ownbey, of St. Louis, Mo., William R. May, Jr., MD, and his wife Caitlin Grady May, of Birmingham, Ala.; one granddaughter, Kate May Kirksey, DMD, and her husband Bryce Miles Kirksey of Cleveland; one great-grandson, Matthew Kyle Ownbey of Huntsville, Ala.; two great-granddaughters, Victoria Nicole Ownbey of Huntsville, Ala. and Natalie Grace May of Birmingham, Ala.; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Tom Montcrif officiating. Interment will follow the service at Sunset Memorial Gardens concluding with a White Dove Ceremony and Military Honors. Pallbearers will be Jason Ownbey, Derek Presley, Dr. Bill May, Judson Ownbey, Lee Ownbey, Gary Lawson, and Jason Ownbey.
His family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the funeral home.
The family requests that donations be made to the First Baptist Church building fund.