Obituary: Alton Brooks Owens
Alton Brooks Owens, 94, of Kinston, North Carolina passed away peacefully on May 4, 2024 at the North Carolina Veterans’ Home in Kinston, North Carolina. Brooks was born in Wilson County on September 8, 1929, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Albert Brooks Owens.
He graduated from Gardner’s High School in 1948. A little less than two years later he met the love of his life, Marilyn Avery at a church meeting. They wed on October 19,1950 and in November he entered military service at Fort Gordon, Georgia serving in the US Army. In October of 1952 Corporal Owens was deployed overseas to Austria for duty in the Army Signal Corps. Upon his return to the states in March 1954, he took a job at the Kinston Free Press, followed by a tenure of more than 32 years at the Kinston DuPont plant. He retired from DuPont in 1987.
Brooks was a man of many talents. He enjoyed working with wood and was a meticulous carpenter. He always had a vegetable garden, supplying neighbors with the surplus cucumbers, tomatoes and squash. He enjoyed cooking and loved sharing pecan pies and banana puddings with family. But Brooks was best known for his grilled barbecue chicken and pig pickings. He cooked for family reunions, neighborhood get-togethers, and Wednesday night suppers at Spilman Memorial Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and usher. He was a member of the Lions Club for many years and took pleasure in grilling chickens to help raise funds for their many projects. But Brooks’ greatest talent was loving and caring for his wife and family.
He was an exemplary role model for his three children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was a modest, humble man who worked hard to make a wonderful life for his family, putting them first at all times. He was always there to guide and support his children in every way. And he continued that unwavering support and boundless love for his grandchildren and three great granddaughters. Brooks was immensely proud of them and enjoyed celebrating their accomplishments. His family will treasure his memory and the legacy of love, kindness and service to his community and church that he exemplified.
Left to cherish his memory are his three children: Sharon Owens Kimrey (Rufus), Carol Owens Larkins, and Timothy Brooks Owens (Pride); his six grandchildren: Elizabeth Craig Sutton, Joshua Charles Larkins, Zachary Brooks Larkins (Ashley), Dr. Timothy Brooks Owens, Jr, (Julia), Gadsden Shand Owens (Margaret) and Julian Bonham Owens; and his three great granddaughters: Catherine Hardy Sutton, Ozzie Mae Larkins, and Lucy Bonham Owens. He is also survived by his sister, Frances Etheridge, his brother-in-law Norman Lynn, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Brooks was predeceased in 2022 by Marilyn, his wife of 68 years. He was also predeceased by two of his sisters, Earlene Banks and Mencey Lynn, brothers-in-law Billy Avery and Edward Avery and sisters-in-law Mavis Taylor and Kay Avery. The family would like to thank the dedicated medical staff and support staff of the North Carolina State Veterans Home-Kinston for the kindness, loving care and friendship so freely given to Brooks and his family in the past several weeks. All of you were a blessing to him.
Graveside services will be held at Westview Cemetery, Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to Spilman Memorial Baptist Church, 601 Madison Avenue Kinston, NC 28501 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50 Memphis, Tennessee 38101-005
