Mr. Joseph Edward "J.E." Owens, 80, of the Dawnville Community in Dalton, passed away Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, at his residence.

He served with the United States Air Force and was employed with the Brooker Ford Company for 19 years and worked as an enforcement officer with the Department of Transportation for 12 years before retiring.

He was the son of the late Jessie Felton Owens and Bessie Cobb Owens and was preceded in death by his brother, Melvin Owens; sisters and brothers-in-law, Wynell and Chuck Crump, Linda Joyce Cavender, J.L. Blaylock and Jack Hayes.

J.E. is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Geneva Etheridge Owens of Dalton; daughter and son-in-law, Joanna and Tim Warnix of Dalton; granddaughters, Haley Warnix of Dalton and her special friend, Justin Guinn, Brandy Warnix Dunn and her husband, Craig Dunn; sisters and brother-in-law, Louise Blaylock and Pat Owen Brooker and her husband John, all of Dalton; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bill Cavendar of Dalton, Rosenell Owens of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Mary Hayes of Dalton; nieces and nephews.

Services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Love Funeral Home with the Rev. Joel Southerland and the Rev. Gary Mimbs officiating.

Burial will follow in Whitfield Memorial Gardens with American Legion Post #112 in charge of graveside rites.

The family will receive friends at Love Funeral Home today from 5 to 9 p.m.

Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.

Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave., Dalton (across from Hamilton Medical Center) is in charge of arrangements.