William J. "Bill" Lowe's Obituary
CLARENDON
SERVICES- 10:00 am Thursday, June 21, 2012 in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with the Rev. Lance Wood, officiating.
INTERMENT - Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Bill went to be home with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to experience reunion with family and friends on June 18, 2012. About 1915, Bill’s parents, then a young married couple, Lilac and Sam W. Lowe, moved from Goodnight to Clarendon, a town they considered a good place to live. Bill was born June 20, 1926, in Clarendon. His family life was characterized by his parents’ love for each other and for him, following the loss of his two siblings. Bill graduated salutatorian of Clarendon High School, while simultaneously completing his college freshman courses. He completed his freshman year of law school while still an undergraduate senior earning a degree in Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Texas. At the age of twenty-two, he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University. Bill returned to Clarendon awaiting a job with the IRS. In the summer of 1948, he married Clarendon native Helen Porter, his high school sweetheart.
Bill offered to help his father-in-law Judge Ralph Porter with his law practice the summer after he and Helen married. He always said that, “Somehow, he never left.” During his first year with Judge Porter, he earned $150.00 per month, and he remarked that he thought times could not be better. The Porter’s and the Lowe’s experienced many happy years in Clarendon, especially after the birth of Bill and Helen’s children, Cindy, Will, and Sam.
Bill had a distinguished history as civic leader, church leader, and attorney. Beginning in 1957, he served for eight years as the elected County Attorney of Donley County in addition to practicing law. He also served for twenty-five years as City Attorney for the City of Clarendon. He served eight years on the Amarillo Area Foundation, was instrumental in establishing Greenbelt Water Authority and served as its general council and Board secretary continuously until the time of his death. He was a stockholder in The Donley County State Bank. He was a member of the Lions Club in Clarendon for over sixty years and had served as its President. As Executor of the Harned Sisters Memorial Endowment, Lowe facilitated the original financial foundation for the present Clarendon College campus. A strong supporter of the college, he served on the Clarendon College Foundation Board for many years.
A member of the First Baptist Church, Bill was a deacon and taught Sunday school for over twenty-five years. He served as Sunday School Superintendent for twenty years as well. Bill served on the Statewide Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas for eight years. His life was characterized by his deep and mature faith as he walked with Christ.
Bill practiced law in Clarendon for over sixty-three years. Many of his clients were the third generation of the original families. For over fifty years, he has held the highest legal and professional rating awarded by Martindale-Hubbell, a highly regarded legal directory. He served for a number of years as president of the 100th Judicial District Bar Association. In 1989, Bill was nominated and accepted as a Fellow in the prestigious Texas Bar Association. In all of his work and civic life, he strived to perfect every project he undertook.
His busy life included many other interest as well. He owned land and operated several irrigated farms. As a hobbyist, he made clocks, collected Western art, Tiffany antique belt buckles, gemstones, barbed wire, arrowheads, and most recently, designed cactus gardens.
Following the death of his wife, Helen, he married Lynn Blackburn Lowe in 2006. Each of them had three children, all of whom were extremely compatible.
His family and friends knew him to be a man of integrity and patience. A Christian gentleman, Bill’s words were always wise and kind. He came from a generation of men whose commitment to his community and family are unparalleled in today’s world.
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY - his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam W. Lowe; his wife, Helen; a son, William Douglas Lowe; a brother, George; and a sister Sammie Jo.
SURVIVORS - his wife, Lynn; a daughter, Cindy Barnett and husband Ben of Dallas; 2 sons, Will Lowe and wife Sandy of Houston, and Sam Lowe of Amarillo; and 3 grandchildren, Callie, Lila, and Emory Lowe.
Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 5:00-7:00.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS - The family suggests memorials be to the First Baptist Church, PO Box 944, Clarendon, Texas 79226.
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