An Effingham-born soldier was killed during a mass shooting at Ford Hood on Wednesday, a relative confirmed today.
Timothy Owens, who was born in Effingham and later moved to Missouri, died after apparently being shot at close range, said Darlene “Dee” Humphrey, the stepmother of Owens’ wife, Billy.
He was one of 19 people shot, three of them fatally, before the alleged gunman turned the gun on himself Wednesday afternoon at the Texas military facility.
Owens married Humphrey’s stepdaughter, whom he knew from high school in Missouri, in a small ceremony last August. He had quickly endeared himself to her family, Humphrey said.
“He was a wonderful, wonderful person,” Humphrey said. “Just kind and helpful, and very, very respectful.”
Humphrey’s daughter received a call on Wednesday to stay at her home until military police could escort her to the hospital where Owens had been taken, Humphrey said. Owens’ wife learned at the hospital that he had died.
“I didn’t know him that long, but he was a wonderful guy,” Humphrey said. “It was just like he was one of our kids.”
Owens will be buried in Lake Spring, Mo.
