Lewis Owenby

Lewis Franklin Owenby, 74, passed away Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory.

A native of Buncombe County, Lewis was the son of the late George Herman Owenby and Vivian Thorpe Owenby. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Ann Owenby, and his two brothers, Steve Thorpe and Kenneth “Buster” Owenby.

Mr. Owenby leaves behind a legacy of hard work, faith, and generosity. He was known as a true helper, always willing to lend a hand, and will be remembered for his cheerful spirit, kind heart, and seemingly endless energy. Lewis dedicated many years to working at Kmart in Arden, but the work he loved most was landscaping. Through his work, he found joy in caring for God’s creation and showing his clients the beauty of God’s work in nature. Above all, Lewis’s faith was the most important part of his life. He lived his faith through the way he served others and cared for those around him. He is now at peace and at rest with his Savior.

He is survived by his three children; two daughters, Jenny Bramlett (Cody) of Knoxville, TN and Katie Lunsford (Justin) of Hickory, NC; a son, Lewis Owenby, II (Andrea) of Danville, KY as well as eight grandchildren, Logan, Zoey, Ezekiel, Ronan, Penelope, Davie, Mason, and Annelise. He is also survived by his sister, Jane “Kathy” Morgan (Tony).

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 4:00 pm at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian in Arden. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 3:00 to 4:00 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a contribution to the American Cancer Society in Lewis’s memory; www.cancer.org