Mrs. Dottie Owen

Dorothy "Dottie" Anne Greene Owen, of Columbia, passed away Friday, August 19, 2016. A wife, mother, grandmother, educator and businesswoman, she will be remembered for devotion to family and her leadership and philanthropy in the community. Born December 16, 1934, she was the daughter of William Spencer Greene and Dessie "Jo" Parnell Greene of Blowing Rock, N.C. An alumna of Furman University, she went on to earn a master's degree from Appalachian State University. In her early career, Mrs. Owen worked in higher education, teaching at both Anderson College and Wake Forest University. Later, her career path led to administration roles in the regional steel industry. It was working for U.S. Steel that she met her husband, Franklyn Deming Owen Jr. He preceded her in death in 1982 after nineteen years of marriage. Upon the death of her husband, who was the second generation of leadership for the company founded by his father, Mrs. Owen became chair of the board of Owen Steel Company, Inc., and its ten subsidiaries in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. She served in this role until 1994, when Owen Steel and the subsidiaries were sold to Commercial Metals of Dallas, Texas. She served in leadership roles on many industry boards, notably as the first woman on several, including Colonial Companies, Inc., the state and national boards of BB&T, Commercial Metals Company, South Carolina State Ports Authority, and American Institute of Steel Construction. Mrs. Owen also served on many community and higher education boards including Appalachian State University, Furman University, University of South Carolina Educational Foundation, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Foundation, Midlands Technical Education Foundation, Junior Achievement, Riverbanks Zoological Society, S.C. State Museum, Central Carolina Community Foundation, Columbia Museum of Art Commission, Columbia Museum of Art and Science, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, S.C. Energy Forum, Providence Hospital (Chair of Building Committee), American Red Cross-Central S.C. Chapter, American Diabetes Association, S.C. affiliate, Hammond School, Columbia College Board of Visitors, Cultural Council of Richland & Lexington Counties, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, and the Kanuga Board of Visitors. Her business and social club memberships were: Columbia Rotary Club (she was one of the first female members in 1988), the Palmetto Club (served on the board), Forest Lake Club, South Carolina Daughters of the American Colonists-Fort Congaree Chapter, and the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century Gov. Robert Gibbes Chapter. The honors received by Mrs. Owen include: Life Membership-University of South Carolina Alumni Association, Woman of Valor from the Diabetes Association, twice recognized in Working Woman magazine in their "Top 50 U.S. Women in Business," The Girl Scouts Women of Distinction award, and the YWCA 1994 Tribute to Women in Industry Award. Mrs. Owen was an active member of her church, Saint Martin's-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Columbia. She served on the Altar Guild, taught Sunday School and helped start the Mother’s Morning Out program. Mrs. Owen is survived by her three children, Franklyn Deming (Susan Cunningham) Owen III of Columbia, Elizabeth Greene Owen (Chris) Westveer of Spruce Pine, N.C., George William "Bill" (Laura Zoole) Owen of Columbia; and four grandchildren, Elizabeth "Betsy" Cunningham Owen, Franklyn Deming Owen IV, Louise "Lucy" Parnell Owen, and Katherine "Mills" Miller Owen. A memorial service will be held 10 o’clock, Tuesday, August 23rd at St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends at the home of Franklyn and Susan Owen on Monday evening from 5 until 8 o’clock and also following the service. Interment in Greenlawn Memorial Park will be private. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Hammond School, 854 Galway Lane, Columbia, SC 29209 or to Saint Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church Foundation, 5220 Clemson Ave., Columbia, SC 29206.

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Mrs. Dottie Owen

December 16, 1934 - August 19, 2016