R.I.P.

     Tom Lowry worked at the Ko-Op and graduated from EIU in 1964. Like many teachers, he returned during summer terms to complete his Masters degree.
     Summer of 1965 was when I first met him; he rejoined the Ko-Op crew. Older student-workers like Kel Thrush, Carl Nosbisch, John 'E J' Ganley and Walt Stine knew Tom, and those of us who were newer soon got acquainted with a man who generally had a warm smile on his face.
     Summer of 1966, his younger brother, Kenny came to EIU as a freshman, worked at the Ko-Op and lived upstairs in the 'hall.' Tom finished his M.S degree in a few years; Kenny left college. I never saw Tom after that, occasionally wondered if he still was in education and where he lived?
     My father has lived in Shelbyville for several years. Every once in awhile, I scan the Shelby paper online and the other day, noticed a familiar name there. Four decades of visits back home to Shelby County to see my parents and siblings; I didn't know that Tom worked and lived in the area.

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Donald Thomas 'Tom' Lowry, Jr.
Date: Thu, Feb 24, 2011
Donald Thomas “Tom” Lowry, Jr., 68, of Shelbyville, IL., died at 6:19 a.m. Wednesday, February 23, 2011, in Decatur Memorial Hospital.


     Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 26, 2011, in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, with the Rev. Jim Whitaker officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday. Memorials may be given to the National Niemann – Pick Disease Foundation or the American Cancer Society. Send condolences to www.howeandyockey.com.
     Mr. Lowry was born on April 30, 1942, in Mattoon, IL., the son of Donald T. and Betty Haverstock Lowry, Sr.
     He graduated from Stewardson-Strasburg High School in the Class of 1960 and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
     He taught middle-school science and math for 37 years at Windsor, Stewardson-Strasburg and Central A and M.
     Tom was the Golf Pro at Sullivan Country Club for 30 years. He was a member of the Fourth Street United Methodist Church in Shelbyville, National Teacher’s Association, George Sentel Masonic Lodge #764, Sullivan, and Sullivan Country Club.
     He married Sandi Robbins Traxler in 1997. Surviving are his wife, Sandi; son, Justin Lowry of Decatur, IL.; step-son, Nick Traxler and wife, Kelli, of St. Louis, MO.; step-daughter, Callie Traxler of Shelbyville, IL.; mother, Betty Lowry Ellison of Mattoon, IL.; brothers: Kenny Lowry and wife, Mary, of Toledo, IL.; and Chuck Lowry and wife, Angela, of Newbern, TN.; sister, Carol Lowry of Mattoon, IL.; grandchildren: Andrew Lowry of Bloomington, IL., and Emma and Brynn Traxler, both of St. Louis, MO.; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bob and Betty Robbins of Shelbyville; and several nieces and nephews.
     He was preceded in death by his father, Donald T. Lowry, Sr.; and daughter, Cori Lowry.