Joyce Dawn Smith LOWRY

LOWRY Joyce Dawn Smith Joyce Dawn Smith Lowry, passed away January 4, 2012 at the age of 78. Dawn was born in Mitchell, Indiana, to Orin and Bertha Smith on September 12, 1933. Dawn was an honor roll student at Mitchell High School, Dawn played in the band, was active in the First Christian Church, 4-H, Girl Scouts, Tri Kappa Sorority and worked in her father's store, Smith Paint and Appliances. As valedictorian of the Mitchell High School class of 1951 she earned a four year tuition scholarship to Indiana State Teacher's, (now Indiana State University), receiving a BS degree. While in college she was active in the Poet's Club, the Science Club, women's Residence Hall Newspaper, and the Sigma Kappa national sorority. A four year Gold Key Award for performing in the Symphonic Band, Induction into Kappa Delta Pi National honorary and was on the honor roll every quarter all four years. Dawn started her teaching career at Clay High School and Eisenhower Junior High in Oregon Ohio. While at Clay she sponsored girl's Junior Y Teens and organized, with Bob Beach of The Blade, the Chess League of Toledo. She was secretary of the first Science Fair sponsored by the outlying schools known as "The Great Northern Science Fair." In Petersburg, Michigan she taught physics and general science for a year. For two years she was a traveling general science teacher to seven inter city elementary schools under a federal grant, working with the teachers on improving their science teaching methods. She then moved to Denver, Colorado. Taking a position in the North Arvada Junior High School under National Science Foundation, working at the Colorado School of Mines to help Rand McNally write and test the experiments for their new next book to be published. She then returned to Toledo teaching at Rogers High School. While at Rogers she sponsored Y Teens and also the Freshman Class. She was for three years assistant buyer for several departments in the six LaSalle's stores. Dawn has been active in the Ski Club, American Association of University Women, Society of Single Professionals, Gourmet Groups, Traders, Sigma Kappa Alumna Delta Kappa Gamma, President of Gamma Omega Chapter and also of the Toledo Area Counsel, Ladies Oriental Shrine Band playing a musette for a number of years. She has traveled to the Orient twelve times. Surviving her is her husband of over twenty years, William Lowry; step- children Bill II, Jennifer and Annette (Don) also special daughter, Qing Mei (Jin Wang) and their daughter, our granddaughter, Cristal as well as other cousins and relatives. Services will be held Friday January 13, 2012 at the South Toledo Community Center, formally (First English Lutheran) starting at 12 noon with a light lunch to follow. Friends wishing to remember her may send contributions to the Toledo Community Foundation Inc., 300 Madison Ave Suite 1300, Toledo, Ohio 43604. Please mark it for the Joyce Dawn Smith Lowry (class of 1951) Scholarship Fund. Purpose: To provide one-time, post-secondary educational to the valedictorian(s) of Mitchell High School. Please view and sign Joyce's Book of Memories at caringcremationservices.com