Lowry, Julia (Kessel) 1891-1987

KESSEL, LOWRY, TRUITT, SHACKLETON, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Jill McCarville (email)
Date: 5/19/2013 at 08:19:28

Julia Kessel Lowry services held

Memorial services for Julia Kessel Lowry, widow of Vice Admiral Frank J. Lowry, were held November 21 at the Bradley-Lindstrom Funeral Home. She died November 17 at the Howard County Hospital.

Julia Brainerd Kessel, daughter of Dr. George and Lila Truitt Kessel, was born June 4, 1891 in Cresco. She was a graduate of Cresco High School and Grinnell College with postgraduate studies at Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa. and Simmons College, Boston, Mass. Julia taught English in the Cresco and Minneapolis High Schools before entering the merchandising field at Bloomingdale's store in New York City.

On December 27, 1916 she married Allan D. Shackleton of Philadelphia who died at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, in December 1918. One son, Allan, was born to them June 9, 1919.

On December 18, 1940, in Honolulu, she married Captain Frank J. Lowry, USN, commander of the Cruiser USS Minneapolis. She experienced the bombing of Pearl Harbor and was active in Navy Relief as long as Navy wives were allowed to remain in Honolulu. At the close of her husband's service they made their home in Napa, Calif. until her husband's death in 1954. In later years she lived in Honolulu and Milwaukee before returning to Cresco. She was a member of the Episcopal Church and a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit in Cresco.

Her son, Allan Kessel Shackleton, preceded her in death by five days. Survivors are one grandson, a granddaughter, two great-grandchildren, and one sister, Gertrude Kessel Williams of Cresco.

Times Plain Dealer November 25, 1987 Page 9A
Transcribed by Jilll McCarville from the files of Janice Sowers