Kenneth Richard Owens, 61, of Gloucester, passed away at his home on Saturday, June 18, 2011, after a long illness.

He was a lifelong resident of York County and was a 1969 graduate of York High School. He retired as a Captain from the York County Fire Department in 2000 after 27 years of service to his community. He was a charter member of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2498. Kenny was an avid lover of sports, with a passion for baseball, NASCAR, and the Washington Redskins.

Kenny was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Louise Owens.

He is survived by his father, Alfred Richard Owens and his wife Grace; a brother, George S. Owens and his wife Dianne; a sister, Judy Anne Johnson and her husband Kevin. He is also survived by two daughters, Kelly Stokes and Jill Kidd; step-daughters, Bobbi Jean Latty, Dawn Marie Shannon; nieces, Kimberlee Anne Brown, April Marie Owens, Stacy Thigpen; nephew, Thomas Brown and his wife Christine, and several grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at noon on Thursday in the chapel of Amory Funeral Home, Grafton. Interment will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park, Newport News. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to York County Fire and Rescue/ Life & Safety, P.O. Box 532, Yorktown, Va. 23692.