John J. "Jack" Lowe, 81, Chambersburg, died Wednesday at home.
He was born in Altoona, son of the late Charles L. and Clara W. (Stahl) Lowe. He married Patricia Ann "Patty Ann" Willnecker on July 11, 1953, and she preceded him in death on April 6, 2007.
Surviving are five children: Barbara A. Stevens and husband, Quincy Sr., David J. and wife, Kathi, Jacqueline M. Ewan and husband, Michael, Gary J. and wife, Carol, and Patrick M.; 11 grandchildren: Quincy Stevens Jr., Shawn L. Stevens and wife, Jennifer, Matthew S. Stevens and wife, Shanna, David Lowe Jr. and wife, Melanie, Lacey E. Helman and husband, Cameron, Jarrett R. Johnson, Cody A. Ewan, Cade S. Ewan and Jonathan M., Nicholas J. and Christopher C. Lowe, all of Chambersburg; 13 great-grandchildren: Hunter, Scott, Brady, Carah, Taylor, Trapper, Kinsley, Klara, Cooper, Gabriel, Landon, Charley and McKenna; and two brothers: Charles R. "Bob" and wife, Elizabeth "Betty," of Springfield and Gerard D. and wife, Joan, of Altoona.
Article Photos
Jack attended Roosevelt Junior High School in Altoona and was a 1949 graduate of Altoona High School, where he was a member of the high school baseball team. He played basketball while attending Roosevelt and also with the YMCA and his church league, where he was a member of the all-star team. After graduation, he served for eight years with the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Jack began a career with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1950 and moved to Chambersburg in 1970 to serve as supervisor of the Chambersburg Reclamation Plant. He was the first teacher of the Orgo-Thermit welding process. He retired in 1990 as division engineer of welding for the Eastern Region after 40 years of service with the company.
Jack was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Chambersburg and Immaculate Conception Church in Florida. He was a former member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Altoona. Early in his life, he played minor league baseball with the Cumberland Old German Brewery. He was a life member of the Marine Corps League and held membership in Charles Nitterhouse VFW Post 1599, Hume-McNeal-Byers AMVETS Post 224, Burt J. Asper American Legion Post 46, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 842, and the Chambersburg Mall Walkers, all in Chambersburg. He enjoyed pitching horseshoes, golfing and watching old western movies.
Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, at Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 320 Philadelphia Ave., Chambersburg, by the Rev. James R. O'Brien. Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions in Jack's memory and in honor of his grandson, Shawn Stevens, may be made to the Four Diamonds fund and should be made payable to Penn State and mailed to the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations, 600 Centerview Drive, P.O. Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033-0852.
Condolences and memories may be shared on his Book of Memories page at www.geiselfuneralhome.com.
