Owen Shannon Higgins, 84, of South Charleston, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by family Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
Owen was a remarkable and honorable man, a loyal and ready friend, an especially accomplished engineer, and a well-loved family man who will be deeply and continually missed.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Voyne Hill Higgins; father, Dual Parent Higgins; his beloved wife of 51 years, Frances (Connie) Walker Higgins; brother, Donald Higgins; sisters, Doris Higgins Kes-singer, and Janis Higgins Grose.
He is survived by son, Shane (Barbara) Higgins, of Charleston; daughter, Suzanne (Steve) Nicewonder, of Salem, Virginia; son, Dr. Henry (Karen) Higgins, of Austin, Texas; seven grandsons, Bryan, Alex, Scotty, Isaac, Ian, Adam and Jacob; two granddaughters, Ava and Lauren; two great-grandchildren, Sophia and Dayne; brothers, Carlos (Kathryn) Higgins, of Texas, David (Norma) Higgins, of West Virginia, and Gerald (Kathy) Higgins, of Kentucky. He is also survived by Helen Warren, his dear friend and companion for the past several years, with whom he had a mutual agreement to “be engaged to not marry;” and Darlene Burton, a longtime friend of the family, who adopted and provided care and love for Owen and Connie Higgins for many years.
As a young man, Owen mastered electronics training and began a successful career with Simplex Time Recorder Company to sell, rebuild and improve time clock systems in factories, schools and other establishments. By 1978, he owned Electronic Specialty Company and developed it to become a regional leader in designing, installing and servicing life safety, security and critical communications systems in hundreds of facilities throughout West Virginia. Along his career path, he also owned and operated several other businesses: Ike Walker Organization; CANDO Corp.; CANDO Rentals; Energy Systems; R and L CableVision; Chessie Carwash; and Ambassador Parking. He was a natural leader in every environment, and was especially skilled in solving technical problems, making effective business decisions, and managing and leading people in a compassionate manner.
Owen was seldom idle and had a lifelong interest in building design and construction. In his recent “retirement” years, he took on several projects to renovate and restore six separate houses, and led the design to help his son convert an existing car dealership structure into a Freestanding Emergency Department (medical clinic) in Cedar Park, Texas.
Both locally and nationally, Owen was involved and active in the community and in several organizations, including service as a Noble member of the Beni Kedem Shrine since 1978; a 32nd Degree Mason within the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry; a Royal Jester of the Royal Order of Jesters; a 50-year member of the Royal Order of Scotland; a 13-year member-at-large for the Thomas Hospital Foundation; and a regional manufacturer’s representative to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) to develop and guide their policies, for several years.
He was an avid WVU Football and Basketball fan, and over the years enjoyed attending and watching games and events on their campus (and via TV) with friends and family.
Owen maintained a deep love of fishing since childhood, which he practiced as often as possible until he could no longer actively stream-fish anymore. He enjoyed hunting in his younger years, but his more recent “shots” of deer were from his camera, and he enjoyed feeding the menagerie of animals that regularly visited him near his home.
Owen gave generously of his time, wisdom, advice, love and humor throughout his years, provided an excellent example of a life well lived, and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, community and work associates.
His family wishes to extend special appreciation and recognition to the wonderful care provided by Thomas Memorial Hospital, CAMC General Hospital, HospiceCare, and Village Caregiving.
Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, September 27, 2024, at Snodgrass Funeral Home in South Charleston followed immediately by a memorial service at 4 p.m. An interment service will be held with family at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Sunset Memorial Park in South Charleston.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. by mail P.O. Box 271118; Flower Mound, TX 75027-1118, or online at https:// www.ktef.org/donation-selection.
Memories of Owen may be shared by visiting snodgrassfuneral.com
Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, is handling the arrangements.
