Ret. Brig. General James Malcomb Lowman

LEXINGTON - Ret. Brig. General James Malcolm Lowman of Lexington, SC, passed away Thursday, March 1, 2018. Born April 2, 1930, he was the son of the late Leon “Sack” Lowman and the late Sara Harman Lowman. Also he was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy Lowman. Jim is survived by his loving wife, Martha “Marti” Hartley; daughters, Elizabeth Lowman and Jan Smith (David) step-sons, Gregg Schneider (Amber), Blaine Richardson (Alyssa), five joyful step-granddaughters, his brother, “Bobby” Lowman, (Barbara) and their two children, Cyndee Smith and Wayne Lowman.

Anyone who was fortunate to know Mr. Lowman was certain of these things: his love for his country, his town, his church, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Clemson University; and his love for his family. For over 38 years, Mr. Lowman served his country faithfully through service, first in the US Navy Reserve for three years (1947-1950) and for over 35 years in the South Carolina Army National Guard (1950-1985). In 1955, he was accepted into Palmetto Military Academy and commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Ordnance Corps, in 1957. In 1960, he was promoted to First Lieutenant; to Captain in 1962; to Major in 1967; to Lieutenant Colonel in 1972; to Colonel in 1976; and, on November 1, 1985, was promoted to Brigadier General and placed on the South Carolina Army National Guard Retired List.

While in the military, he completed a vast number of military schools for promotion from Seaman in the Naval Reserve to that of a General Officer. He completed the Ordnance Officer Career Course and the General Staff College. His military honors included the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medial with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Service Ribbon, and the Active State Service Medal. In 1984, he was honored to be inducted as a charter member of the Palmetto Military Academy’s Hall of Fame.

During his career, he also served in many positions of leadership at the state and national level, including President of the National Guard Association of South Carolina. Other awards included the NGB Meritorious Service Award, the Order of the Palmetto as well as the Order of the Silver Crescent from the Office of the Governor of South Carolina, Honorary Citizen of Tennessee by the Governor of Tennessee, Georgia Commendation Medal, and Honorary Kentucky Colonel by the Governor of Kentucky.

Following his retirement from the military, Mr. Lowman embarked upon a very successful second career with Woodmen of the World and retired as an area manager. Over the course of his life he also sold cars part-time at Herndon Chevrolet and worked as a “soda jerk” at Harmon Drug Store and a shoe shine boy on Main Street in Lexington.

Among his service to his beloved town of Lexington, were many years as a volunteer firefighter and various activities through the local Jaycee organization. For him, his greatest service to the town was the two terms he served as Councilman (1989-1994 and 2000-2004). Jim was also a charter member of the Country Club of Lexington and served on its board. As a young man, Jim became a member of the Masonic Lodge in Lexington.

Mr. Lowman was a member of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and served in many capacities over his decades of worshipping there. Until his illness, he was a faithful member of the Men’s Sunday School Class, Lutheran Men, and Lutheran Men’s 100 Club. He also served on church council and as treasurer.

While Mr. Lowman did not attend Clemson University, his blood definitely ran ORANGE. He worked tirelessly on behalf of Clemson, particularly in the last half of his life. During his sixty-plus years of membership in IPTAY, he was privileged to serve as Lexington County Chairman. Jim was one of the driving forces behind the formation of the Lexington County Clemson Club and he served that club in many capacities, including President more than once. Not only was he honored with the Super Tiger Award, but he is one of a select few who have received the Judge Caughman Award presented by the Lexington County Clemson Club.

Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2018, at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lexington, SC. Interment with full military honors will follow in the cemetery at the church. The family will receive friends during a visitation at the church beginning at 2:30 p.m. in the Narthex of the church. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Men’s Sunday School Class at St. Stephen’s.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be directed in his memory to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church Building Fund, 119 North Church Street, Lexington, SC 29072, or to IPTAY Annual Fund, 1 Avenue of Champions, PO Box 1529, Clemson, SC 29633.

The family would like to thank the physicians and all the staff of the WJB Dorn VA Hospital, the Stone Veterans Pavilion and Heartstrings Hospice for the outstanding care provided to Mr. Lowman over the last several weeks. All of you helped to make this transition much easier on our family as you treated him with such love and dignity.

Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, located at 503 North Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29072, is assisting the family with the arrangements.