Okatie Thrift Store Founder
Our Osprey Village family was saddened recently to learn of the passing of former Board member Dr. Orval Lee Bowen on July 30, 2021. Lee and his wife, Theresa, were the driving force behind the establishment in April, 2011 of what was originally known as “Heart to Home Thrift Store” located at the intersection of Rt. 170 and Argent Blvd. in Okatie, SC.
Lee joined our Osprey Village Board of Directors at a critical time in our scramble to survive and grow our organization. As a Board member, he was instrumental in putting together a video promotion for OVI and serving on the fundraising and board recruitment subcommittees.
One of his most important accomplishments was to establish our first thrift store in Okatie. Now, Osprey Village operates two such stores, and the one on Main Street is the largest thrift store on Hilton Head Island.
He and Theresa almost single-handedly spent months tracking down a suitable location, putting together the store plans, enlisting an army of volunteers from his neighborhood in Sun City, and painting and renovating the building to open our first thrift store over 10 years ago. They gave countless volunteer hours over the next several years to ensure that the store had a solid business foundation.
The store has been in operation at the same location ever since, generating more than $1,000,000 in overall sales to support Osprey Village’s operations. Many of those original volunteers that the Bowens recruited are still committed to working a regular weekly shift at the store.
We are most grateful to Lee and Theresa for their many years of support for Osprey Village. As Shawn Phillips, who was Board Chair when Lee served on the Board, commented, “He was a terrific guy who had a big heart and a caring personality. If it wasn’t for his hard work, dedication and passion for Osprey Village and our mission, we wouldn’t have had a thrift store.” May he rest in peace.
