Robert L. Lowe

Robert L. Lowe (Bob), 96, longtime resident of Leawood, KS, passed away September 12, 2011. Services will be held at Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO on Friday, September 16, at 11:00 a.m. Burial in Mt. Moriah Cemetery South. Friends may call from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Stephen Ministry of the Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS 66208. Bob, President of The Robert Lowe Co., a local food brokerage firm, was a lifetime member of the Allied Food Club and was well known to wholesale grocers throughout Missouri and Kansas. He was a member of the Village Presbyterian Church and sang in its Chancel and Chamber choirs. Previously he was a member of the Westport Presbyterian Church and its Chancel Choir, serving as a tenor soloist from 1950 until 1980. Prompted by his friend Jon Spong, nationally acclaimed organist and accompanist, Bob recorded a sacred album in the 1970s. Following that joint effort, Jon remarked that, “Bob’s extraordinary gift as a church soloist was unequaled,” and that, “the immediacy he had with his listener was spell-binding.” Bob’s versatility allowed him to perform in diverse venues over the years, including his own Sunday afternoon radio show on stations WDAF and KMBC, sacred oratorios and cantatas in area churches, pop concerts at Loose Park and Unity Village, Swope Park’s Starlight Theatre, and even local television. His love of music also sparked his passion for ballroom dancing, and in 1961, he and his wife, Carleton, were asked to dance on a local TV program spotlighting businessmen and their hobbies. In 1963, they both receive medals for their performance-level achievements at the annual Arthur Murray Medal Ball. Bob leaves daughters Diane Jones, Donna Mastalio, and Karen Bergford; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and brother Bill Lowe. He was preceded in death by his wife Carleton, and son Richard “Rich” Lowe. Condolences may be offered at www.mtmoriah-freeman.com. Arrangements under the direction of Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.