Clinton LaFayette "Pappy" Lowman

Clinton "Pap" Lafayette Lowman, 95, of Hildebran NC went to his heavenly home February 21, 2014, at Hospice of Burke County. Mr. Lowman was educated at Sweetwater School, and was a retired hosiery fixer. Born January 22, 1919, in Hudson, N. C., he was the son of Dorse and Maude Lowman Ritchie. In addition to his parents, Mr. Lowman was preceded in death by his loving wife, Sallie Smith Lowman; Brothers Paul and Grady Lowman; and Sister, Margaret Lowman Smith. Surviving are daughters Frances Young (Glen); Doris Arrowood (Allen); Brenda Gordon (Dale); Sons Clayton Lowman (Nancy); Gary Lowman (Julia); and Kevin Lowman (Tina); son-in-law Larry Abernathy (Bea); and Nine grandchildren:Larry Abernathy, Jr.; Anita Cook (Chris); Lance Abernathy (Melissa); Glenda Young; Rick Thomas (Crystal); Clay Lowman (Amy); Brian Lowman (Nikki); Jennifer Puckett (Jeremy); and Monica Collins; and Fifteen Great Grandchildren: Lawrence, Jayden, Lana, and Lex Abernathy; Sallie and Christopher Cook, Jr.; Ava Thomas; Andrew and Michael Lowman; Jackson and Meris Puckett; Kylie, Daniel, and Darren Lowman; and Chase Collins; and his loving and devoted sisters, Ruby Young (John) and Mildred Speagle (Walt), and a number of nieces and nephews.   Mr. Lowman has been a faithful member of Henry River Baptist Church since 1952, having served in various capacities: Junior Deacon, Deacon, Chairman of the Deacon Board, Church Treasurer, Church Cemetery Overseer, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School Class Teacher; Church Trustee; Elder of the Church; and has willingly served on various church committees throughout the years. Mr. Lowman was certified as a Master Welder and Shipbuilder and worked in the shipyard in Wilmington, NC. He joined the Navy in 1943, and shipped to several Ports-of-Call in the South Pacific. Mr. Lowman serves on the Board of Directors for the Icard Township Fire & Rescue, as well as the Icard Water Department Board of Directors. He also served as Vice President of Burke County Firemen's Association for many years. He has received various awards over the years, including: Fireman of the Year (1974 and 1990); Burke's Best Volunteer Award (1990); Burke County Chamber of Commerce Safety Recognition Award (1990); Emergency Medical Technician of the Year for the State of N.C. (1991); Burke County First Responder of the Year (1993 and 1996); Lenoir-Rhyne College Man of the Year (1999); Icard Township First Responder of the Year (2002); Western NC Firefighters Association Firefighter of the Year (2004); Long Leaf Pine Award (2013) – one of the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of N. C. More important than any reward he could receive, Clinton has earned the respect, love, and admiration of every person that knows him. Mr. Lowman joined the Icard Township Fire/Rescue in 1962 as a volunteer fireman, and was recently honored for his 50 plus years of service. He served as Assistant Chief of Traffic Control from 1965 to 2013. He was 63 when he took the State Emergency Management Training Course and 77 when he took the EMTD (defibrilater) class to upgrade his expertise. He continued as an active Volunteer Fireman and First Responder up to and including his 90's. When he could no longer actively volunteer, he made daily visits to the Fire Department, to join his "brotherhood" for morning coffee and fellowship. Funeral services for Clinton "Pap" Lowman, will be held at 1:00 P.M. , Monday, February 24, 2014, in the Chapel of Heritage Funeral Service, Valdese, N. C., with the Rev. Richard Hudson and Rev. Tony Bowman officiating. Interment will follow at Catawba Memorial Park, Hickory. The family will receive friends from 2 hours before the funeral. Grandchildren will be pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of Icard Township Fire and Rescue and Burke County Emergency Services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests Memorials may be made to Icard Township Fire/Rescue, Inc., 100 First Avenue, NE, Hickory NC 28637. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Burke Hospice and Palliative Care Center, Valdese, NC. for the excellent care given to Pap during his stay there. An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com. Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory of Valdese is serving the family.