In Memory of J/30 sailor and friend – Dorsey Owings

Tell some Dorsey Stories

Richard Dorsey Owings
April 16th, 1950 – November 25th, 2009

Richard Dorsey Owings, of Millington, Md., a lifelong farmer and sailor, died Nov. 25 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. His family was at his side at the time of his passing. He was 59.

Born in Baltimore’s Union Memorial Hospital, the son of Mary Francis and Meredith Dorsey Owings, Dorsey moved to Maryland’s Eastern Shore with his family in 1962 following a year’s adventure aboard a 40-foot sailboat between Annapolis and the Bahamas. That trip, which included competition in the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit with his father, instilled a love of sailing that Dorsey enjoyed throughout his life. He reached the peak of his sailing prowess in 1997 when he and his Seabiscuit team won the J30 national championship staged at Newport Rhode Island. Dorsey and Seabiscuit team won a second J30 National Championship in 2000.

Following the family’s move to the Eastern Shore, Mr. Owings worked side-by-side with his father and sons growing corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, tomatoes, spinach and hogs on several Kent and Queen Anne county farms. When he wasn’t planting, harvesting or sailing, Mr. Owings enjoyed hunting, fishing and crabbing on the Chester River and being with his friends and family.

Mr. Owings was widely recognized for his invention of the Seabiscuit cocktail, named for his boat, a vodka and tonic drink flavored with a slice of cucumber.

He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Gail Webb Owings; two sons, Marshall Dorsey Owings of Chestertown, Md., and Casey Clinton Owings and his wife Megan of Centreville, Md; his father, Meredith Dorsey Owings of Millington; two sisters, Rebecca Owings Forney and her husband, Dennis, of Lewes, Del., and Elizabeth Howard Owings of Chestertown; a brother, Samuel Sheridan Owings of Church Hill, Md; and his beloved hound dog Rosie.

A memorial service for Mr. Owings will be held 1P. M. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Shrewsbury Parrish Hall, Kennedyville, MD. Donations may be made to Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, or the Chester River Association.
Reprinted from http://www.fhnfuneralhome.com