Charles Franklin Lowrie

Charles Franklin Lowrie, Age 74, passed away May 10, 2015 after an extended illness. He was born February 20, 1941 to Franklin Patrick and Rubye Gladys Wooldridge Lowrie and he was a lifelong resident of Chisholm and Terrell as well as a longtime member of Chisholm United Methodist Church where he served as a Trustee, following in his parents’ footsteps. Charles graduated from Terrell High School in 1959 and East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University Commerce) where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master of Science in 1964. He was a member of Phi Theta Fraternity and Iota Alpha Chapter. He worked for Van der Horst Corp. for over 40 years and invented a plating process for iron that did not use chrome plating which was a major development for this industry. He traveled the world to share this process and was instrumental in setting up plants in Mexico as well. The process was patented in 2000 under the name of CL2000. Charles wrote the patent application himself and many articles for technical industry magazines on different plating processes on which he was considered an expert. After the closure of Van der Horst, he continued his life’s work and became a technical advisor for Columbia in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Charles was a member of the Chisholm Cemetery Foundation where he served on the Board of Trustees as Vice-President for 30 years. His dedication to the Chisholm Cemetery Foundation was inspired by his mother, Rubye, who was also a Trustee until her death in 1997. Preceding him in death are his mother and father, however Charles leaves many cousins and a host of friends who have been touched by his brilliant mind and fighting spirit. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday May 14, 2015 at Anderson-Clayton Bros. Chapel in Terrell with interment following at Chisholm Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday May 13 at the funeral home. A reception will follow his graveside service at Chisholm Chapel located at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Chisholm Cemetery Foundation 353 League Rd. Rockwall, Texas 75032.