BAILEYVILLE – Frederick W. Owens Jr., 77, passed away peacefully Oct. 2, 2010, at a Bangor hospital after a 16-month battle with cancer. He was born Aug. 22, 1933, in Concord, the firstborn son of Frederick and Annie (Bigelow) Owens. He grew up in Bingham and graduated from Bingham High School in 1951, after which he worked at the local Quimby Veneer Mill for two years. After serving four years in the U.S. Navy as a pipefitter aboard the USS Krishna, he returned to the veneer mill for two more years. Fred graduated from Southern Maine Vocational School, South Portland, in 1961, and married Alberta Farthing the same year on Thanksgiving Day. He was employed by F.P. & C.H. Murray and Alan Balfour of Cape Elizabeth from 1961 to 1965, and moved to the Calais area in 1965. His career as a millwright at St. Croix Paper Co. / Georgia-Pacific / Domtar began with a three-year construction job with Stone & Webster. The family moved to Woodland/Baileyville in 1978. Upon retiring in 1998, he enjoyed puttering around the house, completing the finish work on the home he built, planting flower and vegetable gardens, playing cribbage, watching the high school basketball tournaments, University of Maine hockey and basketball games, the Boston Red Sox and being with his beloved grandchildren. He was a man of integrity and a devoted family man. He is survived by his wife; four daughters, Lori Englert, Karen and her husband, Richard Stark, Nancy and Catherine Owens; two grandchildren, Nicole, who was born on Grampy’s birthday, and Sean Stark; three stepgrandchildren, Sarah and her husband, Kurt West, Andrew Stark and Kyle Stark and his wife, Stacy; three sisters, Lois Owens, Ann and her husband, Ernie Richardson, and Fran and her husband, Lenny DiCicco; cousin, John Owens; several nieces and nephews; and the family pet dog, Kiaya. He was predeceased by his parents; and niece, Lisa. He will be sorely missed. The family expresses their gratitude to the staff at Eastern Maine Medical Center for all their kindness extended during his illness. Special thanks to Dr. Charles McHugh, Dr. Thomas Openshaw and Dr. Catherine Chadowicz. Friends may call 10 a.m. until the time of service 11 a.m. Monday Oct. 11, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. Interment will be 3 p.m. Monday at Woodland Cemetery, Baileyville. Those who wish to remember Fred in a special way may send gifts to CancerCare of Maine, 33 Whiting Hill Road, Brewer, ME 04412; Beth C. Wright Center, P.O. Box 322, Ellsworth, ME 04605; or Mary Dow Center, Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, 50 Union St., Ellsworth, ME 04605 – the latter two being pilot programs to assist cancer patients from Washington and Hancock counties with travel and motel expenses. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
FREDERICK W. OWENS
