Graham C. Owen died on Friday, Dec. 17 at Roberts Care Center in Palatka after an extended illness. He was 71. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ashton Owens, Sr. of East Palatka; a brother and his wife, Gene and Dorothy Owen of Jacksonville; a brother-in-law, Marshall M. Roysden, Jr. of Palatka and his father-in-law Ellington J. McMeekin of Hawthorne.

Surviving are his beloved wife of 45 years, Julia McMeekin Owen; two sons and wives, Graham Ashton and Tracey Owen of Branford and Wade and Alice Owen of Baldwin, Ga. ; three grandchildren, Samantha and David Owen of Branford and Emma Owen of Baldwin, Ga. and his mother-in-law Eva B. McMeekin of Hawthorne.

He is survived also by two brothers and their wives, Dr. Harry Aston Owen, Jr. and Phyllis Owen of Durham, NC; and Michael and Dot Owen of Marietta, Ga.; sister, Edith Owen Roysden of St. Augustine; sisters and husbands, Emily Ann and Gene Zimmerman of Jacksonville, and Carolyn and Perry Smith of Okeechobee. He is also survived by two brother-in-laws and wives, Jeff and Margaret McMeekin and Joe and Irene McMeekin, all of Hawthorne; also many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and special cousins.

Graham was born August 17, 1933 in Knights Station, a small village in Hillsborough County. He grew you in East Palakta and attended a three room elementary school there. He graduated with the class of 1951 from old Mellon High School and attended Florida State University. He served in the U. S. Army in the Army of Occupation in Austria and Germany and in 1957 began a banking career with member of the board of directors of the Branford State Bank and was with that bank over 20 years. While in Branford, Graham served on the Town Council, on the board of directors of the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Suwannee County Housing Authority and a long time member of the Suwannee County Development Authority. While serving on the Development Authority, Graham was instrumental in obtaining “The Spirit of the Suwannee” park north of Live Oak.

In 1981 Graham sold his interest in the Branford State Bank and formed a Georgia Corporation for business consulting and accounting. For the next 20 years, he and his wife owned and operated Owen Financial Services, Inc. in Habersham County, Georgia. Graham served as president of the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce, on the board of directors of the United Way and was one of the original founders of the Downtown Cornelia Business and Professional Association. He was a long time member of the Habersham County Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.

After retiring and returning to Putnam County, Graham realized a life long ambition to do some writing and as a correspondent for the Palatka Daily News had over 100 special feature stories and articles published. In a joint venture with his brother, M. M. Owen and cousin, Kim A. Owen, Graham co-authored a book “The War of Confederate Captain Henry T. Owen.” The book was published by Heritage Press in June 2004.

Graham was a charter member and former commander of the Curahee Rangers Camp 935 Sons of Confederate Veterans in Toccoa, Georgia and a member and former commander of The Sgt. Charlie Dickison Camp-Sons of Confederate Veterans- Palatka. Graham was a long time member of the St. James United Methodist Church in Palatka.

Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22 at the Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home, 307 S. Palm Avenue, Palatka with Rev. Hardy B. Sandlin, III and Rev. Gene Zimmerman officiating. Interment followed at 1 p.m. at Ochwilla Cemetery on State Road 21 in West Putnam County.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. James United Methodist Church Building Fund, 400 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177 or to Hospice of the Lakes, 6400 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, Florida 32177.

Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Palatka was in charge of all arrangements.