Gary William Lowry

ABILENE - Gary William Lowry died at home in the arms of his loving wife, Roslyn Lowry, on May 6, 2025. Gary was born on October 26, 1936, on the Lowry farm just outside Oxford, Kansas in Sumner County, to his mother Loretta Lowry (Marteney) and Harold Lowry. Gary was predeceased by his older brother, Ronald Lowry and baby sister Karen Lowry.  He is survived by his older sister Rovella Erker of Conway Springs, Kansas and younger sister Phyllis Kennedy and her husband Jon, of Stephenville, Texas.

Gary graduated from Oxford High School in 1954. He attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts. He worked his way through college working for his father in Lowry Day & Night Plumbing. He loved to remind his children that he had first-hand knowledge that it does not flow up hill. After college, Gary accepted a position with Continental Oil Company in the marketing and accounting division in Ponca City, Oklahoma for $365 a month. Continental Oil transferred him to their New York City office in 1964. The family moved to northern New Jersey and Gary commuted into the City by bus every day. In 1969, an old friend from Oxford, Gary Donley, was working in Abilene for Citizen’s State Bank, let him know that Duckwall’s was looking for a controller. Gary flew back, interviewed, got the job and moved the family back to Abilene, Kansas. Gary was eventually promoted to Vice President of Finance and was instrumental in taking the company public when it was renamed Alco and its shares were traded on the stock exchange. He retired from Alco in 1998 and lived in Abilene with Rocky until his death.

Gary was married to Marilyn Knapp on May 25, 1958. They had three children: Jodi Blair and husband Kenny, of Topeka, Kansas; Kirk Lowry and his life partner Linda Nemechek, of Deep River, Connecticut; and Scott Lowry and wife Kim, of Lawrence, Kansas. Gary was a proud supporter of his children’s education. Gary and Marilyn were divorced in 1984.

Gary married Roslyn Wilson Lowry on November 24, 1984. Rocky brought two beautiful boys into the family: Shawn Wilson of Mundelein, Illinois; and Chris Wilson and wife Jane, of Kansas City, Kansas.  Gary was a loving grandfather to all his grandchildren, taking them on summer trips and playing golf among many other activities. Gary and Rocky had five children, seventeen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Gary is cherished by his family for all he gave them: appreciation of education without thinking it was in any way superior to hard work. It is not. That his children are no better than anyone else, except in his heart. That we were required to respect every other person and their work. That we would succeed if we worked hard, and then harder. Above all, he supported and loved us unconditionally. Gary, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, we thank you for all you have given us, for you have given us everything, and we will remember and love you forever. We will live on and will work hard to live up to your love and all you have given us.

Funeral services for Gary will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Abilene on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 10:30 AM.  Visitation will start at 9 AM at the church.  

Memorials may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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