George G. Lowry

George G. Lowry

85, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. He was born in Chico, Calif., on Jan. 12, 1929, to the late Roy and Georgia Edith Lowry. He is survived by his wife, Marcia Mackey of Indianapolis; daughters, Susan Lowry, Barbara Fuller, and Gretchen Flatto; son, Robert Lowry; granddaughters, Kristina Fuller, Alicia Fuller and Rachel Flatto; grandsons, Anthony Fuller and Jason Flatto; and sisters, Marilyn Reiswig, and Charlotte McNamara. His first wife of 54 years, Janet Lowry, preceded him in death in 2007.

After graduating from Chico High School, Dr. Lowry earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Chico State College and an M.S. in Organic Chemistry from Stanford University. He then worked as an industrial research chemist at Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Mich., before returning to school to earn a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Michigan State University. From 1963 to 1993, he was a chemistry professor at Claremont Men's College in Claremont, Calif., and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich. He was also an independent consultant in chemical safety and author or editor of four books.

Dr. Lowry was a man of many talents and interests. Before attending graduate school he was a photographer for his college yearbook and a professional jazz musician. He loved classical music and opera. He was a skilled craftsman who built his own furniture and stereo equipment and helped design and build four houses for his family. He also volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America for many years and was an active member of the Rotary Club. After retiring, he moved to Charlottesville, Va., where he volunteered as a reader of chemistry textbooks for Books for the Blind before moving to Indianapolis in 2007. During the past two decades he traveled extensively, both inside the United States and internationally.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, at 10:00 a.m. at the Marquette Manor Chapel, 8140 Township Line Rd., Indianapolis. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Doctors without Borders, or the Marquette Manor Foundation.