Silas Owen Sheetz

AIKEN - Silas "Owen" Sheetz, 94, died at Doctors Hospital in Augusta on June 2, 2015. Mr. Sheetz was born in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina and was the son of the late Silas Sheetz and the late Mabel Craft Sheetz of Wilmington, North Carolina. He attended and graduated from Georgia Tech with a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering During WWII, he served as an officer in the United States Air Force 1944 – 1946 and retired at the rank of Major from active reserve in 1969. Following his service, he began his professional career as an engineer with E. I. Dupont taking assignments in West Virginia, Delaware, overseas in Holland, and Indiana. He moved to Aiken in 1975 and worked at the Savannah River Plant until his retirement in 1983. His loving wife, Mary Jane Sheetz from Atlanta, Georgia, preceded him in death after 62 years of marriage. Survivors include his loving children: Kathy (Robert) Fishburne, Steve (Lisa) Sheetz and granddaughters, Katherine and Bryson. Owen became active at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church where he served as Warden, Lay Reader, Chalice Bearer, and Vestryman on a number of occasions. In 1994, Owen co-authored a book, St. Thaddeus of Aiken, a Church and Its City, with H. A. "Mac" McClearen. Owen and Mac then joined forces to kick off efforts in the conception, planning and construction of the now-completed Aiken Railroad Depot. Owen was a loving husband and father, distinguished career professional and community leader, and dedicated churchman. Owen loved the sport of golf and was active in South Carolina senior golfers. He was also active for many years in the Aiken Rotary Club. The funeral will be on June 10th at 1:00 pm at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church with the Rev. Joseph Whitehurst officiating. Following interment in the church cemetery, a reception will be held in St. Thaddeus' Stevenson-McClelland Building. Pallbearers will Bob McClearen, Robert Wade, Lionel Smith, Van Smith and Richard Garcia. Honorary pallbearers will be Ed Samson and Dean Sackett. The family would like to thank Lisa Gandy and her team for their kind care over several years; they helped our father maintain his dignity through the on-set and ravages of Alzheimer’s. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Thaddeus Church Cemetery Fund, 125 Pendleton St. SW, Aiken, SC 29801 SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801. Please visit his online guest book at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Silas Owen Sheetz, please visit our flower store.