NEODESHA — Charles “Chuck” Owens, 69, of Neodesha, formerly of Parsons, died Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, at his home. He was in failing health for the last several years.

He was born Sept. 13, 1940, at Jasper, Ark., a son of Calvin Walter and Anne Mae (Hatfield) Owens. At a young age, his family moved to Parsons, where he was raised and attended school. He graduated from Parsons High School with the Class of 1958. He later received a master’s plumbing license and at the time was the youngest person in Kansas to accomplish it.

While he was in junior high, he began working in his family’s business with his father, Cal, and uncle, Albert, at Owens Plumbing. He later owned and operated Chuck’s Plumbing, Heating and Cooling for many years, while also being employed at LaForge and Budd Construction. Chuck was lead plumber at LaForge and was a construction superintendent. In the late 1980s, he moved to the eastern North Carolina area and worked on many water plants and other projects LaForge was involved in there. In July 1996, he returned to Kansas and lived in Coffeyville until moving to Neodesha that December. Chuck was involved in the construction and renovation of numerous water plants in the Midwest and was in charge of the renovation of the Parsons and Neodesha plants. He retired in 2005 because of health reasons.

On July 27, 1962, he married Verna Barnes. They later divorced. He married Jan Aldrich on Oct. 31, 1996, at Coffeyville. She survives of the home.

Throughout his life, Chuck enjoyed collecting Cushman scooters. He also enjoyed collecting Indian artifacts and making Indian jewelry. He also was an avid reader and enjoyed making homemade ice cream.

In addition to his wife, Jan, survivors include four children and their spouses, Charlee Taylor and her husband, Tim, of Birmingham, Ala., Cynda Lavender and her husband, Roger, of Altamont, Dustin Owens and his wife, Tifany, of Bunn, N.C., and Brandy Mendicki and her husband, Marty, of Parsons; a stepson, Christopher Aldrich of Neodesha; nine grandchildren, Alaina Williams of Lawrence, Coltynn Williams of McAllen, Texas, Kristopher Hawley of Manhattan, Hillman Ball of Bunn, N.C., Wilson Owens of Bunn, N.C., Peyton Owens of Bunn, N.C., Chloe Lubbers of Parsons, Christopher Aldrich of Neodesha and Colton Armagost of Neodesha; two great-granddaughters, Camilla and Maizy; and two sisters, Calvin Ann Burrows and her husband, Gordon, of Coffeyville and Jayne Gwartney of Parsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Chuck will be dearly missed by his family and all of his many friends.

The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Mason officiating. The body will be cremated following the service. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home, where friends may call at their convenience.