Owen Fennell Herring Iii

Owen Fennell Herring III, aged 89, passed away peacefully in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on May 31, 2025, with his wife and dog by his side. Born on September 29, 1935, in Winchester, Kentucky, Owen was the son of Owen Fennell Herring II and Ethel (Farrington McConnell) Herring.

Owen grew up in North Carolina, spending his formative years in Durham and Wake Forest. He was a graduate of Wake Forest University (joining a family legacy back to 1899 and continuing through 2024).  He completed his education at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and in 1965, became a professor of philosophy at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  After dedicating over 40 years to teaching, he and his wife, Chris, retired in 2010 to Hilton Head Island.

Owen served his country in the U.S. Navy earning the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  He was on active duty for three years in the late 1950s, spending a year aboard a navy aircraft carrier, the USS Wasp. He continued as an officer in the Navy Reserve for 17 years.

Owen was married to Patricia Herring (Phillips) from 1960 to 1978, with whom he had two daughters, Catherine and Carol. In July 1991, he married Chris Cherrington, who remained his devoted partner until his passing.

Owen cherished the mountains of North Carolina and Pennsylvania. He spent childhood summer vacations in the Smokies and at Fort Caswell Beach. An avid bicyclist, Owen served as president of the Williamsport Bicycle Club and continued cycling into his 80s. Known for his dry sense of humor and inquisitive nature, Owen inspired his daughters and students to think critically and question the world around them.

Owen is survived by his wife Chris; daughters Catherine (Jenya) and Carol (Alan); three grandchildren Dana (Connor), Jacob, and Natalie; siblings Robert (Bertie Joyce), Ann Fox; and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother and wife, Richard and Judy; brother-in-law, PG Fox; and his granddaughter Anna Carol.

The family will gather for a celebration of life at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Memory Matters of Hilton Head Island, SC, an organization dedicated to supporting those affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. (https://www.mymemorymatters.org/donate).

Owen’s legacy lives through his family, his students, and the countless lives he touched with his humor, intellect, and philosophical perspective.