FLORENCE - Elbert Delette Owens, 93, died Saturday, January 5, 2013, at McLeod Hospice in Florence after an illness. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 8, at Evergreen Baptist Church. The Rev. Dr. Quinn Hooks will officiate with burial to follow in the Evergreen Baptist Church Cemetery directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, January 7, at the funeral home and at other times at the home of Robin and Sherri Owens located at 6508 Owens Lane, Effingham, SC.

Mr. Owens was born in Florence, SC, a son of Rufus Baker Owens and Anna White Owens. He was a member of Evergreen Baptist Church where he served as Deacon, Sunday School Director, Sunday School Teacher, and Trustee.

Mr. Owens entered the Service and reported to Fort Jackson, SC in October 1942. He received training at Camp Breckinridge, KY; Lebanon, TN; and Camp Rucker, all prior to receiving his Pacific Deployment. Mr. Owens later became part of Operation Olympic, the invasion of Japan, scheduled for November 1, 1945. However, in August 1945 atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki forcing Japan to surrender. The invasion forces including Mr. Owens became occupation forces under General MacArthur. Mr. Owens was honorably discharged from the Service on January 26, 1946.

After the Service, Mr. Owens returned home to operate the family farm. In 1972, he joined the US Postal Service as a Rural Mail Carrier until his retirement in 1985.

Mr. Owens was preceded in death by his wife of thirty-eight years, Mary Ellen Johnson Owens, who died in 1988, his parents, and a sister, Merlee Owens Hatchell Floyd.

Surviving Mr. Owens are his two sons, Elbert Wynn and Robin Dell (Sherri) Owens; his daughter, Sherri Lynn Owens; and his two grandsons, Christopher and Cody Owens - all of Effingham and a special friend, Rosa Lee Anderson of Florence.

Memorials may be made to Evergreen Baptist Church, General Budget, 6316 Pamplico Highway, Effingham, SC 29541.

Pallbearers will be Calvin Benton, Dexter Carraway, Larry Carraway, Eddie Freeman, Larry Hatchell, Sr., and Ronald Hatchell. Honorary Pall Bearers will be members of the Joe Willis Sunday School Class, Victor White, and Cecil Tanner.