Richard Curtis Lowrey's Obituary
Richard Curtis Lowrey, age 70 of Richardson, Texas, born on January 24th, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois to Richard Columbus Lowrey and Ollie Ruth Lowrey. He passed away on August 4, 2021, after a difficult 15-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Richard attended Western Illinois University where he majored in Business Administration. He was a founding member of the Zeta Mu chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at Western Illinois University in 1971, where he formed life-long bonds with his Brothers. This is also where he met his future wife, Victorian. After graduation, he worked in industrial sales for over 30 years before retiring in 2007. He married Victorian Smith on December 11, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois, and had three daughters, Heather Andrea Stacey, Katherine Ivanna, and Jaqueline Paige Victoria.
Although a man of few words, Richard had three passions in life - music, history, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. While a student at Western Illinois University, he was a disc jockey for the school radio station, and particularly proud of his intro song: Something For Nothing by MFSB. Over the years, he amassed an impressive collection of vinyl records that had been enjoyed for decades and later turned into Spotify playlists to share those memories with his family. He loved history and could provide a kitchen table lecture over The Civil War or World War II and recall the most obscure details of historical events. Richard, oftentimes known as ‘Jig’, valued the bonds forged as a brother of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity where he enjoyed 50+ years of friendships.
He was known as the basketball star of his family, but his daughters knew him as daddy. Despite being an athlete, he was a great ‘Girl Dad’. He never missed a ballet or piano recital and even took ice skating lessons to participate in an ice show they were in. For a Spelling Bee Competition, he didn’t hesitate to fly in and surprise his family with his presence. He also passed down his love for music and although he did try to teach them the rules of basketball and football, with limited success, the lessons he taught about hard work and commitment to a goal would last a lifetime.
He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Columbus Lowrey, brother Terry Dean, grandparents Christina Harris and Gordon Hawkins, Nancy Broughton and Tommy Lowery, father-in-law Edward Smith, aunts Muriel Laird, Judy Mitchell, Beatrice McCarthy, cousins Calvin McCarthy and Ronnie Mitchell, Kappa Alpha Psi Line brothers Samuel Jennings III and Lawrence Broughton.
Richard is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Victorian, who stood by him throughout his illness, daughters Heather Lowrey; Katherine Lowrey Scott and her husband Brian; and Jacqueline Lowrey; mother Ollie Ruth Lowrey of Montgomery, Illinois; mother-in-law Edna Smith of Bellwood, Illinois; brother Alex Lowrey of Duluth, Georgia; and reluctant best friend Bobbie ‘the Pooch” and a host of friends, brothers and family.
A celebration of life for Richard Cutris Lowrey is set for Monday, August 16, 2021 at 2:00pm in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Memorial Park. An one hour visitation will be held prior to service, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm at the same location.
To join this service please click the link:
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/58286/hash:24FFBB7030F9118A
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