Obituaries:  Robert L. (Bob) Lowrey, Sabine Parish       L-600
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Jul 5, 1979
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net


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Robert L. (Bob) Lowrey (Photo)

  Death claimed one of Sabine Parish's most prominent citizens
when Robert L. (Bob) Lowrey passed away at 4 a.m., Monday, July
2, after an extended illness. He was 64.

  Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 3, at 3 p.m., in the
Many United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ray Spiller
officiating. Burial was in St. John Cemetery, under the direction
of Warren Meadows Funeral Home.

  Mr. Lowrey's career in the car and truck business has been a
long and fruitful one. He first went to work as a service and
parts man for his father at Lowrey Motor Co. in Mansfield in
1931. He began selling cars and trucks in the small dealership.
In 1933, Chevrolet required the dealership to separate from
Oldsmobile, so Mr. Lowrey was placed as the Olds and GMC dealer
until 1935.

  In 1935, Olds reunited with Chevrolet, and Mr. Lowrey was
transferred back to the Sales Department.

  In 1938, Mr. Lowrey attended the Third Dealers Son's School in
Detroit, Mich., and in the fall of the same year, he became the
Chevrolet dealer in Many. Under his leadership, through the
years, the business grew and prospered. Through the years, he and
other members of his family purchased and operated other
dealerships in Louisiana and Texas.

  In 1977, Mr. Lowrey was named Southwest Truck Dealer of the Year
by "Business Week", a nationally read magazine, and the American
Truck Dealers Division of the National Automobile Dealers
Association.

  A distinguished panel of judges from Columbia University's
Graduate School of Business based its selection on Mr. Lowrey's
dedication to community service, his contribution to the economic
growth of the community, and his superior success in
merchandising trucks.

  He was featured in a full page ad in "Business Week" in June of
1977.

  Mr. Lowrey became a member of the Board of Directors of Sabine
State Bank and Trust Co. in 1966. He was serving as chairman of
the board at the time of his death.

  During the time he was associated with the bank, its assets
increased from about $6 million in 1966 to about $30 million this
year.

  Mr. Lowrey was instrumental in the construction of a new
building for the bank of Many, and at the same time, converting
the old San Antonio headquarters into a downtown branch. In
addition, under his leadership, the bank opened branches at
Zwolle and Florien.

  He became a member of the Board of Directors of DeSoto Federal
Savings and Loan Association, headquartered in Mansfield, Jan.
14, 1958. He served as a Board Member until June 14, 1978.

  Mr. Lowrey believed in improving the economy of this area, and
it was through his efforts with these financial institutions that
arrangements were made for businesses and industry to locate in
this area and/or expand.

  One of the founders of the Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce in
1946, he was interested and active in the functions on that
organization for many years. He served as president of the
Chamber in 1958-59. He also served as a member of the Board of
Directors for many years.

  Mr. Lowrey was a member of the Many Lions Club, which he joined
in February of 1939. He served as president in 1942-43. He was
always active in the Lions activities, especially Boy Scout work
and eyesight conservation.

  He served a year as president of the Public Affairs Research
Council of Louisiana in 1965-66. The organization is active in
improvement of governmental practices in Louisiana. As a former
president, Mr. Lowrey was a lifetime member of the group's Board
of Trustees.

  In addition, he served on the Board of Trustees of the Council
for a Better Louisiana for many years, and held that position at
the time of his death.

  He helped to found, and served as president of the now defunct
El Camino Real Association in the early 1950's. He was a member
of the Sabine Association for Retarded Citizens.

  Mr. Lowrey was actively involved in the work of the First United
Methodist Church of Many, having served on the Administrative
Board, and the Board of Trustees.

  He was active in community activities that lead to Vancouver
Plywood Co. Inc. locating at Florien in 1964. He was a member of
Vancouver's Board of Directors from March 1966 until April 1970.
In addition, through the years, he was a supporter of the
forestry and broiler industries in Sabine Parish. He was always a
leader for the industrial development of the area.

  An ardent trap shooter, Mr. Lowrey helped to form the Many Gun
Club, and served as president and field captain. At one time, the
local Club was the second largest in Louisiana. Mr. Lowrey won
several awards on the state and regional levels in trapshooting.
For several years, he participated in the Grand American Trap
Shoot in Vandalia, Ohio, which has participants from all over the
world.

  In addition to trapshooting, Mr. Lowrey's other favorite hobby
was fishing. He had a comp house on Toledo Lake, where he enjoyed
going, and to fish on the lake.

  He is survived by his wife, Helen; three sons, Joe Lowrey, and
Louis Lowrey, both of Many, and the Rev. Charles Jenkins of
Monroe; a daughter, Mrs. Mary Lou Schaejbe of Houston, Tex.;
three brothers, Jack Lowrey of Mansfield, Dr. Walter Lowrey of
Shreveport, and Lynn Lowrey of Houston, Tex.; two sisters, Miss
Elizabeth Lowrey of Mansfield, and Mrs. Joseph B. Mount of
Sulphur; nine grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

  Active pallbearers were E. L. Edwards Jr., Horace Tompkins, Bill
Boone, Osborn Miller, J. C. Morris, Hoy Lee, Dr. Fred Thomas, and
Marlin Risinger.

  Honorary pallbearers were members of the Board of Directors of
Sabine State Bank and Trust Co.