Submitted by: Dan Rich

Velma U. Lowden

Oct. 10, 1908 - March 3, 2008

South Bend Tribune 3/6/2008
SOUTH BEND - Velma U. Lowden, 99, of South Bend, passed away on Monday, March 3rd, in St. Paul's Retirement Community. She was born on October 10, 1908, in Owensboro, Kentucky, to the late Elizabeth (Clayton) and Robert Bellwood.

On June 6, 1927, in Owensboro, she married Ernest Lowden, who preceded her in death on May 29, 1993. Mrs. Lowden was also preceded in death by a sister, Rosalie Bellwood; a brother, James William Bellwood; and by a half sister, Christine Smithson. Mrs. Lowden is survived by two daughters, Beverly (Fredric) Bettner and Barbara Williams, both of South Bend; two granddaughters, Katherine (Carl) of Dowagiac and Shelly of Las Vegas, NV; and by two nieces, Marie Avery of New Castle, KY, and Ann Johnson of Owensboro, KY. Mrs. Lowden was a clerk for J.C. Penney's in downtown South Bend. She later worked for 10 years as a hostess at the Central Blood Bank located in the South Bend Medical Foundation where she was known as "Granny" and the "Orange Juice Lady." She was a member of the First Christian Church-Disciples of Christ, South Bend, where she was a very active member being involved in the Christian Women's Fellowship and the Plus Ultra Sunday School class. Velma Lowden was a very loving and caring mother, grandmother, aunt and friend and will be greatly missed by all of those whose lives she touched.

Services for Mrs. Lowden will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 7, in the First Christian Church-Disciples of Christ, 1101 East Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, where friends may call one hour prior to services. The funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Owen Cayton, pastor of the church. Entombment will be in the Riverview Cemetery Mausoleum, South Bend. Welsheimer Family Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. The family request that memorial contributions be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.