Richard Lowry 1965-1984

LOWRY, DETLEFS, SCHMIDT, BURROWS, OLSON, ALARDIN, STEGALL, RODENHOUSE

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 4/20/2024 at 07:57:06

4 April 1984 - The Tipton Conservative

Richard Lowry, 19, R 2, Wilton, was killed in a head-on collision at the crest of a small hill in Lime City, Sugar Creek township, at 4:40 p.m.. March 27. Tracey Meyer, 16, also R 2 Wilton, was injured in the crash.

The accident took place when Lowry, who was returning from working at Louis Rich, West Liberty, had turned off I80 and had taken the old Iowa 38 road over the I-80 overpass and was headed northwest through Lime City. Meanwhile Meyer had left the farm home of his parents, the Luverne Meyers, less than a mile from the scene of the accident and was headed southeast.

Because of rain the general condition of rural roads at the time the shoulders were soft and the roadway is generally one-track.

Officers who investigated the crash think that neither driver saw the other until the cars were only feet apart. The crash took place at approximately the entrance to the driveway of the Elnora Showalter home.

The full impact of the crash hit the left front of the Lowry car, pinning him in the wreckage. It is believed that he died instantly. The impact on the Meyer car was more even across the front of the vehicle and he sustained only relatively minor injuries and was released from Muscatine General hospital the night of the accident.

The Wilton fire department was called to the scene. This was followed by a call to Tipton for the "jaws of life" and the Tipton fire department's rescue squad. It took only a short time to extricate Lowry's body from the vehicle. Lowry was pronounced dead by Dr. Walter Kopsa, Cedar county medical examiner.

Funeral services for Richard Lee Lowry, 19, were held at Peace United Church of Christ, Bennett March 30 with the Rev. Elmer Baker officiating. Burial was in Memorial park cemetery, Davenport. Ruth Riedesel was organist. Pallbearers were Jerry Burrows, Don Olson, Francisco Alardin, Dave Royer, Jim Detlefs and John Knight.

The son of James Francis and Mary Grace Rodenhouse Lowry, he was born at Davenport March 5, 1965. He graduated from Wilton high school in 1983. He was employed by Louis Rich at West Liberty at the time of time death.

Lowry was a member the army reserve at Muscatine.

He is survived by his parents, 6 sisters, Mrs. Jim (Kathryn) Detlefs, Bettendorf; Mrs. Allen (Linda) Schmidt, Timberville, VA; Mrs. Jerry (Diane) Burrows, Bennett; Mrs. Don (Theresa) Olson, Tipton; Mrs. Francisco (Bevery) Alardin, West Liberty and Mrs. Tim (Mary) Stegall, Muscatine; 2 brothers, James M., Phoenix, AZ and Mark E., Wilton; several nieces and nephews; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Mary G. Rodenhouse, Alton, IL and his paternal grandfather, C. E. Lowry, Bettendorf.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather and paternal grandmother.