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Submitted: 7/6/22 • Approved: 10/15/24 • Last Updated: 10/18/24 • R377027-G0-S3
US Marine Corps
World War II
July 9, 1922 - August 6, 2015
Pearl Harbor Survivor
LAFAYETTE - Robert Donald Lowe passed away at his home August 6, 2015 surrounded by loved ones. A longtime resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, "Bob" was born July 9, 1922 in Hutton, Louisiana to Robert Lee Lowe and Emma Bergeron.
Funeral services will be held at Episcopal Church of the Ascension Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 11:00 am. Visitation will be in Coughlin Hall at Episcopal Church of the Ascension from 8:00 am until time of service. A private family burial will follow in the Lafayette Protestant Cemetery.
Following graduation from high school in 1939, Bob joined the United States Marine Corps in March of 1941. Extremely proud of his military career, Bob was one of the few remaining Marine survivors of the bombing of Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. Unique at the time and towards the end of World War II the Navy was accepting flight school candidates. Bob was one of those selected few chosen to participate and at that time he entered the Navy. When the war ended the program terminated and Bob was honorably discharged.
Bob began his professional career after his discharge in 1945 and moved to Lafayette in 1952. Never content or tolerant for the "average" Bob's energy in both his professional and philanthropic endeavors became very well known. A friend and colleague put it best when she said, "Mr Bob was a pillar of exemplary character and leadership in our community, and he will be dearly missed by many, many people". His first business concern in Lafayette was the creation of Central Industries, an oilfield service company supplying board roads for drilling locations and serving five states. He was also part owner of Gulfgate Marine, a company providing underground cable and fiber optics for companies like Bell South Telephone and Century Telephone and he was owner of Golf Course Builders, Inc.
"Retirement" was a word that did not exist in the Bob Lowe vocabulary! When he sold his energy industry business concerns, Bob began his passionate interest in cattle, banking, real estate development and Veteran's affairs. A member of Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Bob was actively involved with activities within the Parish and spoke fondly of his many friendships, most especially those who were his "Sunday Pew Pals".
Bob began his many philanthropic efforts as founder of Lafayette Association for Retarded Children and later served as Louisiana Chairman. He was also founder and builder of the Alleman Center and in 1970 he founded Acadian Village, a campus specially created for the education and fulfillment of the developmentally disabled. In 1965 Bob also served on the founding Board of 232-HELP and served as a two term President thereafter. His most recent honor was being inducted into the Acadian Museum Living Legends 2015.
Bob served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank for fifteen years and was elected to and was presently serving on the Advisory Board of Iberia Bank.
A true passion for Bob was his involvement with Veterans and in Veterans affairs. He was a Life Member of the Marine Corps League of Acadiana, Detachment 488. He was an Executive member of the Southwest Louisiana Veteran's Action Coalition. He served as Commander for the American Legion in 2012-2013 and was awarded Legionnaire of the Year in 2014. He was presently serving as First Vice Commander of American Legion Post 69. He became instrumental in securing the passage of legislation which would serve in efforts to bring a Veteran's Clinic to the Acadiana region. He was a member of the Executive Committee for the Veteran's Memorial Foundation of the Lafayette Central Park. As an ardent political activist Bob served as Chairman of the Louisiana Right to Work Committee for eight years and was actively involved in Republican interests in all level of politics.
Bob is survived by sons, Casey Lowe of Jackson's Gap, Alabama; Cody Lowe of Amite, Louisiana; and stepson, James Parkerson Roy, Sr and wife, Ginger Roy of Lafayette, Louisiana. He is also survived by grandchildren Bonnie Lowe Martens of Camden, Alabama; Olivia Lowe of Seattle, Washington; Valerie Lowe of Lafayette, Louisiana; step grandchildren John Parkerson Roy, James Parkerson Roy, Jr, Christopher Malin Roy and Elizabeth Caswell, all of Lafayette, Louisiana; and numerous great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of forty years, Jewell Parkerson Lowe, daughter Kathleen Paulette Lowe and parents Robert Lee Lowe and Emma Bergeron Lowe.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to any one of the following organizations you choose -
Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503
Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 1030 Johnston Street, Lafayette, Louisiana 70501
232-HELP, 1005 Jefferson Street, Lafayette, Louisiana 70501
Veteran's Memorial, Lafayette Central Park, 2901 Johnston Street, Suite 300, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503.
Contributed on 7/6/22 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 377027