"Jack" John Frederick Lowey

Jack Lowey wore many different hats and went by many different titles throughout his life: son, brother, uncle, friend, husband, daddy, Papa, soldier, captain and chief. But his favorite title would undoubtedly be pilot. And with his formidable teenage years being shaped by the music of the Beatles and the Beachboys as well as the carefree culture of southern California in the 60’s, it stands to reason he would depart this world on the last day of summer.

Jack’s two great loves shaped his adult life almost simultaneously: In 1968 he graduated from initial flight school to become an Army helicopter pilot and on June 21, 1968, the first day of summer and longest day of the year, he and Susie (Margaret Susan Weaver) were married. The next day, they drove cross country in a corvette for Jack to continue flight school training at Ft. Rucker, Alabama before he left for a one-year tour in Vietnam.

Their adventures together would take them through becoming parents to three children: Jennifer Ann Lowey Jenkins (married to Joel Jenkins), Leslie Marie Lowey and John Frederick Lowey, III. They lived in multiple homes in three different states (Texas, California & Alabama) and two vastly different countries (The United States of America and in Isfahan, Iran).

Jack would continue with his aviation career as an instructor pilot, factory test pilot, medivac pilot, simulator instructor, teacher of initial flight training as well as recurrent instructor – achieving the highest rank and honors in his field that he could achieve: Army CW4 officer, FAA Check Airman, hold certificates in over 30 different aircraft, create training manuals still in use today as well as the designation at Flight Safety DFW of “The Best of the Best”. All of Jack’s great achievements in the end, proved to be no match to Parkinson’s disease: the evil lingering effects of the Vietnam War.

The last seven weeks have been an exceedingly challenging chapter for those who love Jack Lowey. Susie proved repeatedly what a marriage of 57 years of sacrificial love truly means. We’ll never know why God chose this specific time to call Jack Lowey home to heaven, but we all share a smile in our hearts knowing they shared one last epic road-trip adventure together on the drive home from the nursing home to continue hospice care in his final days, after being told medical transport wouldn’t be available until the next day.

Jack Lowey’s passion for life, determination for achievement and love of adventure is a legacy that continues as he leaves behind his three children, four grandchildren {Anthony Keagan Lowey (wife Amanda), Drennan Wayne Riley (wife Ragen), Brianna Reachelle Lowey, Cedric Sean Lowey} and two great grandsons (Ryker Wayne Riley and Kaleb Neil Lowey). He is also survived by his brother, Roger A. Lowey and his wife Lida who reside in Arizona as well as many extended family.

Jack Lowey’s loving family takes great comfort knowing he is now whole, free from pain, reunited with his parents and flying free in the heavens once again.

The family will hold a Celebration of Life, come-and-go picnic style meal at their family residence on Sunday, October 12th, just after what would have been his 79th birthday.