William Owen Callaway embraced life in full from the moment he entered this world on November 12, 1956, born to Bubs and Bill Callaway. As a child, Owen was all boy with constant skinned knees, whether diving into Louis Lamour novels or building forts in the woods behind his home.
He was place-kicker for Randolph School’s JV team until transferring to Huntsville High School. For several years, he delivered the Huntsville Times, leaving home early each morning before coming home to prepare for school. After graduating from Huntsville High, he enrolled at Vanderbilt where he pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
As a young adult, Owen moved to Miami, Fla., where he enjoyed a highly successful modeling career. Bubs and Bill were thrilled to see a huge advertising billboard in London featuring Owen’s laughing image. His smile could light up a room and charm every girl in it. He brought excitement wherever he went. Owen’s real love, however, was spending time on the family farm in Meridianville.
If you were privileged to know Owen in his prime, you knew how wonderful it was to be around him. The kindness he showed to his nephews included building forts, letting them drive the tractor on the farm, and imagining grand adventures there. His family likes to think he roams there still, feeding cows and mending fences.
Owen passed away peacefully on the farm that he loved on May 12, 2026. He is predeceased by his wife, Hillary Branner, and his parents, Dora Owen (Bubs) and William D. Callaway. Owen is survived by two sisters, Beth Callaway Alexander (Dave) and Jane Callaway; two nephews, Dave Alexander, III (Tori), and Callaway Alexander; three great nieces and one great nephew.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 10 at 11:00 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church CUP Fund.
For more obituaries visit our obituaries page.
This obituary was published by Laughlin Service Funeral Home & Crematory.
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