SOUTH BEND - Jean G. Lowe, 85, died at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008 in Memorial Hospital following an illness. Mrs. Lowe was born August 26, 1922, in South Bend, to the late Archie L. and Elma V. (Beyrer) Gemberling and was a lifetime area resident. For 62 years, Jean G. Lowe was the beloved wife of Robert W. "Bob" Lowe, whom she met while a 10-year employee at Bendix Corporation and married in St. Paul's United Methodist Church on May 4, 1946. She will also be greatly missed by sons, David Lowe (Pam) and Donald Lowe; and daughter, Marcia Leary (Jack); and three grandchildren, Jonathan Leary, Justin Lowe, and Marissa Lowe. She was a lifelong resident of South Bend, having been born here on August 26,1922, and graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1940. Jean was active in many organizations, including serving as president of Women's Circles at Grace United Methodist Church, and participating in United Methodist Women and other church functions. She was also active in Psi Iota XI Sorority, PEO, Eastern Star, South Bend Cotillion, and Memorial Hospital Women's Auxiliary. She served as co-president of Jackson High School Band Parents, and was a co-founder of the St. Joseph Valley Purdue Alumni Club. Jean greatly enjoyed travel, seeing much of the continental United States and Alaska and Hawaii. She also saw England and much of the European continent. Other hobbies included spending time with her children, grandchildren and extended family, playing piano and organ, ballroom dancing, attending Purdue football and basketball games, and playing games like bridge and Scrabble with friends and family. Jean will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 19 in Grace United Methodist Church, with Rev. David Schrader officiating. Entombment will follow, later in Riverview Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today, July 18 in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 North William St. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 3012 S. Twyckenham Drive, South Bend, IN 46614. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at welshfh@yahoo.com.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on 7/18/2008