Barry Lowe

Barry W. Lowe passed from this life Thursday, December 4, 2014. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at Grace Community Church with Pastor Rod MacIlvaine officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by American Legion Post #105 Honor Guard. Arrangements are under the direction of Walker-Brown Funeral Home. Barry Wilbur Lowe was born April 9, 1945 in Pottsville, PA to Wilbur and Grace Laverne (Snyder) Lowe. He graduated from Pottsville High School in 1963, earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering degree from Lafayette College and later his M.B.A. from Oklahoma State University. Barry proudly served his country during the Vietnam War as an infantry advisor in the U.S. Army. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge and was honorably discharged as a Captain. He married Kristin Mary Brown on January 22, 1972 in El Paso, TX. They made their home in Bartlesville, OK where they put down roots and raised their family. Together they remained active within the community until her death on September 27, 2003. Barry's initiative and drive can be seen throughout his career in engineering. After working for Proctor and Gamble in operations, he joined Phillips Petroleum Company in 1974. He held management positions in construction, operations, research and development, process design and project management until his retirement in 2000. His tenacity and fortitude persisted throughout his retirement when he met and married Karen Sue Henry on April 2, 2005. With her by his side, he continued his community involvement by establishing the Lowe Family Young Scholars program in 2006 providing mentorship and college scholarships to academically promising, yet economically disadvantaged students. He also provided funding for an endowment to support the scholarships for generations to come. Further accomplishments and influences included: serving on the Board of Education for ten years, four of those as President, publishing "It Never Stops Taking" in 2012 chronicling his journey through Parkinson's as told through his own journal and being an active member of the Bartlesville American Legion Post #105 Honor Guard. Barry has been recognized for his achievements and contributions both in his career and in the Bartlesville community, receiving the following awards and honors: Phillips Petroleum Outstanding Engineer in Management Award in 1997, The Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award in 2002, The Oklahoma all-State Board of Education in 2006, Buddy Spencer Leadership Award 2006, Most Progressive Citizen of Bartlesville in 2008, The Ray Steiner Champions Award from the Big Brothers-Big Sisters Award in 2009, The AARP Oklahoma Top 50 award in 2010, Bartlesville Living Legend by Bartlesville Magazine in 2012. Over the years Barry has enjoyed two-stepping and square dancing, yard work landscaping, softball, fast cars and following OSU sports as an avid football fan. Tenacious with a strong will to persist, Barry was a man who could make his presence known without a word - a man who carried himself with brilliance, authority and without regret. He was preceded in death by his parents Wilbur and Grace Laverne Lowe, his wife Kris Lowe and sister Sharon Joy Hepner. Barry is survived by his wife Karen, brother Tom Lowe of Frackville, PA, daughters Melissa Marie Wade and husband Johnny of Owasso, OK and Jennafer Grace Gorton and husband Cliff of Skiatook, OK. Stepdaughter Megan Gill and husband Bryce of Louisville, KY and stepson Jason Henry of Stillwater, OK. He was blessed with three grandchildren; Kristy Wade, Braden and Jacob Gorton, friend Bill Woodard, numerous nieces, nephews and many friends. Special thanks to the caregivers who blessed Barry's life through their kindness and tender care: Franceisco, Tina, Blanca, Colby, Molly and Joy. Also, thanks to Lorie, Mary, Missy and Kristin from Cornerstone Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Lowe Family Young Scholars, P.O. Box 33, Bartlesville, OK 74005. Casket Bearers will be: Johnny Wade, Cliff Gorton, Bill Woodard, Franceisco Carreno, Frank Jordan, Gary Quinn and Honorary - Ron Jones.

Barry Lowe

April 9, 1945 - December 4, 2014