Robert McKinley Lowe

Robert McKinley Lowe, 84, died peacefully at his home in Weems at 8:30 p.m. March 27, 2011. He was born in northern Louisiana in 1927. His parents were Ruth McKinley Lowe and Jessie Luther Lowe. When he was two his family moved to a farm in Garland, Ark. As a boy he was in charge of tending the livestock. He loved his goats, horses and mules. Mr. Lowe graduated from the University of Arkansas Law School in 1953. He married Patricia McLaughlin and had four children. He practiced law in Texarkana, Ark., until 1960 when he moved to Washington D.C. to become press secretary for Senator J. W. Fulbright of Arkansas until 1962. He worked to help get Fulbright reelected and he got Lum of Lum and Abner (a radio and television comedy) to do Television ads for Fulbright. He returned to Texarkana where he was very active in the civil rights movement and helped start the first integrated church there. He also got funding for the Millwood Dam near Texarkana. He had a life-long love of politics and he always rooted for the underdog. In 1965 he worked to review The Fairness Doctrine, which required that radio and television stations air both sides of controversial issues. This doctrine was passed and then rescinded during the Reagan administration. He moved back to Washington D.C. in 1966 and spent the rest of his career working for various government agencies. In 1969 he divorced. For a few years he operated a bar-b-que restaurant in Alexandria called The Hickory Dock. His family cherishes his recipe for bar-b-que sauce. In 1979 he married Jeanine Drysdale Lowe. His final job was working for the architect of the U. S. Capitol. He and Jeanine retired to Weems. They were both active in the Lancaster County Democratic party. He died a very peaceful death at his home on the mile wide Corottoman River near Weems. With him at his death were his son, Robert M. Lowe Jr. and his sister-in-law, Patricia Payne. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanine Drysdale Lowe; his brother Lynn Lowe; and his parents, Luther and Ruth Lowe. Surviving are his daughter, Ann Lowe; his son, Robert M. Lowe Jr. and his wife, Mary, and their two children, Luther and Jinny Linn; his son John Lowe and his wife, Beverly; and his daughter, Jessica Pupiales, and her husband, Miguel, and their children, Michael and Natalie; his sister, Jean Davis and her children, Betty, Nancy and Charles; and his sister, Dorothy Fisher and her husband Ray and their children, Bill, Patty, and Steve; his brother's wife Jean Lowe and her children, Mike, Ruthie and Martha Robertson and her husband Chris; and his sister-in-law Pat Payne and her children Susan, Lewis, and Carol; his good friends Cora Conway, Leon Blanton, Lee Williams, and his Yorkshire terriers, Tristan and Emmy who he loved so much he'd let them eat off his plate. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He had a great sense of humor and he was a fine host. There will be a memorial service for him and his wife Jeanine at their home at 2 p.m. June 18. Bar-b-que will be served. Currie Funeral Home LLC in Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.