She entered Denison University in Granville, Ohio in 1957 and joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Following two successful academic years at Denison, Judy decided to pursue a career in physical therapy.
She moved to Indianapolis and in 1959 began coursework in physical therapy in the Allied Health Science School, which was associated with and located in the IU School of Medicine. Judy was a Phi Beta Kappa her junior year and received her BS degree from Indiana University in 1961. She completed an 18-week internship at Vanderbilt University Hospital. Judy then joined Riley Hospital in pediatric therapy and began working with polio patients in iron lungs.
Judy met the love of her life, John Charles Lowe, in the medical student dorm. Their first date was a fraternity dance. The next day, John took Judy to church and drove her home to Greensburg to meet his parents. They were married on June 30th, 1963 in the Broadway United Methodist Church. She and John celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on June 30th.
As the years past, their devotion and love to each other deepened. They were best friends and truly
loved being together. John was Judy’s longterm caretaker until his death four months ago. Since his
passing, Judy talked to John every day, singing the song “Hey Good Looking, Whatcha Got Cooking? How ‘Bout Cooking Something Up For Me?"
Judy loved being a mom to her four adoring children and was an active volunteer in many organizations. Altogether, the Lowe children completed 56 years at Park Tudor. Judy was awarded a plaque for longest tenure ever in home rooms. She was president of the Mother’s Association and served for seven years on the school’s board of directors. She was also a volunteer with Crossroads Rehabilitation Center, Christamore House Guild, and a Brownie Leader.
Judy was a long standing member of St. Luke’s Methodist church and Meridian Hills Country Club.
She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, and grandmother. She was adored by all nine of her grandchildren, and will be lovingly remembered as telling them, “Love you to the moon and back”.
Judy is survived by daughter Cathy Lowe Haffey( Michael); daughter Jenny Lowe Riegner( Kurt); son John Lowe Jr.(Darla); and daughter Katy Lowe McPeek(Chris); grandchildren Jack(Mykala), Mary, Elliot, Henry, Johnny, Chris, Sarah, Colin and Marin; sister Sue(Tad): nephew Dick(Julie); nephew Tom(Sandi); Charlie(Patti) and niece Mandy(Patrick).
Judy was preceded in death by her husband, John Lowe.
The Lowe family will be forever indebted to the wondrous care from Marquette Health Center staff and Paradigm Hospice.
Special thanks go to following Marquette staff members; Alicia, Jon, Lacey, Dee, Cathy, Sherry, Brenda, Maria, Myrianne, Liz, Vanessa,Ty, Miriam, Michael, Edith, Zulieka, Nadia, Josephine, Darian, Brian, Bertha, and Laurie among many others. Paradigm nurses, Justin and Kristine, offered not only excellent care but also prayerful wisdom.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, December 15th from 3pm to 4pm at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46260, a memorial service will immediately follow from 4pm to 5pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Judy’s memory may be made to the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Foundation at https://ipffoundation.org/donate/.
