Fred Owens, 74, served with Marines in Vietnam – Coastal Observer
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COASTAL OBSERVER

Fred Owens, 74, served with Marines in Vietnam

October 20, 2022

Fred Owens of Murrells Inlet died Sept. 30. He was 74.

He was born April 2, 1948, in Camden, the son of Bessie Louise Owens and Clarence Oswald Owens. They moved to Columbia where his parents owned and operated Owens’ Grocerette.  He graduated from Lower Richland High School in 1966 and attended Wingate College before joining the Marines.

He waived his right as a sole surviving son that would have exempted him from serving in a combat zone in Vietnam. He joined Golf Battery, Third Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, Third Marine Division at Khe Sanh Combat Base near the DMZ. He remained close friends with the Marines he called his band of brothers, who carried the scars of that war the remainder of their lives. Three of them met recently.  

Mr. Owens worked for the Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Division.

He was married for 50 years to the late Anne Hollingsworth Owens.  They lived in Hopkins until they purchased and floated a house across Lake Murray, then raised and remodeled it as their family home in Leesville. They always enjoyed the beach, camping at Ocean Lakes campground for many years before purchasing their second home in Murrells Inlet after Hurricane Hugo. They enjoyed traveling the U.S. and cruising the Caribbean in their retirement. 

Mr. Owens moved to Murrells Inlet permanently after his wife died in 2020. He lived on Lee Avenue, surrounded by friends who visited often, enjoying his wit, intelligence and humor while sharing stories with a cold beer in his man-cave garage or by the pool. Fred loved life at the beach and all it had to offer: fishing, shrimping and crabbing as well as hunting. He was also an excellent shagger in the shagging capital of the world.

A celebration of his life will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Barking Dog on Pendergrass Avenue.  Participants are invited to wear the bright colors he loved and their smiles, share their stories and tall fishing tales. Have a Mich Ultra on him and celebrate the spirit of a good man.

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