Richard "Dick" Hardee Lowrance

Mr. Lowrance passed away at his home in Atlanta, Georgia at age 96. He is preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Sproule Lowrance of Atlanta; his parents, Euna Hardee Lowrance and Richard Russell Lowrance of Texas; brother, Byron Russell Lowrance of Michigan. He is survived by companion Margaret L. Poythress of Macon, Georgia; sister, Carol Penney of New Haven, Ct.; Malinda Lowrance, sister-in-law of Michigan; and nephews Rick(Debbie), Scott(Jean) and Bruce Lowrance.

Mr. Lowrance grew up in Blossom, Texas. He attended Lakeview High School after which he became a civil service employee who volunteered to go to Station X at age 17. Station X was an unknown destination in 1941. The journey took him to RAF Burtonwood, Warrington, England, by way of the Queen Elizabeth, which had been converted into a troop ship during WWII. Burtonwood turned out to be the largest air depot in the world during WWII. This was just prior to the beginning of the Mighty Eighth US Air Force. Mr. Lowrance checked electrical equipment on B17s and eventually joined the USAF. While at Burtonwood, he enjoyed the first Bob Hope Show. On return to the US, he earned a BS degree from Texas-Wesleyan and attended UCLA. He became the first west coast sales person for Alcon Pharmaceutical and later joined the Storz Instrument Company selling Zeiss microscopes and surgical instruments. Becoming a pilot enhanced his ability in sales nationally. Eventually Mr. Lowrance, his brother, Byron and Jack Dull formed the JEDMED Instrument Company based in St. Louis. JEDMED grew into an international company from which he retired around 2000 selling the company as an ESOP to their employees. Mr. Lowrance enjoyed the company of close friends, artists, pilots and physicians. He and his wife became avid art collectors of local, national and international artists. They were world travelers from China to Russia to the Caribbean and maintained close ties with the Burtonwood Association attending reunions in the US and England. Mr. Lowrance was adventurous as a pilot flying into the Grand Canyon as a young pilot. He was once forced to land in a field in Mexico and happily the land was owned by Dr. Castrovijo, an ophthalmologist whom Mr. Lowrance knew through JEDMED. In building his career, Mr. Lowrance would take his motorcycle, which he cut in half to make fit into his Cessna 250, then re-bolted back together on landing, fueled with gas from an engine wing and was off to another sales event! His friends loved his stories, his robust sense of humor, his passion for life and piercing expressions. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. A memorial service with military honors will be held at 11 A M at July 11th at A. S. Turner Funeral Home. Reception will be held 30 minutes prior to service. In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to the Burtonwood Association, 6325 Howe Dr, SW, Alburquerque, NM, 87105-6722 or their favorite charity. Burial will be private.