Roland Eugene Lowrey

The first thing that comes to mind is that he was the hardest working man we have ever known.

He was always up with the sun and out the door first thing to provide for his family of seven children. Even in his final months of life when his legs wouldn’t work anymore, he was asking for his boots and pants so he could get to work. It was a legacy that he instilled in all of his children and grandchildren.

Dad was born in Ohio on March 20, 1931. He married our Mom when they were both quite young, and began their family which includes Rita, Joyce, Pete, Tony, Annie, Charlotte and Frank.

They lived in Ohio while the first 4 were born and Dad worked as a machinist for an aerospace firm. He built his first home, along with his brother, Dick who built his home on the same street. They had many happy years there spent with all their siblings and families. Dad later transferred to the company location in Arizona where Annie was born.

A few years later, he had an opportunity to work for his Uncle Bob as a truck driver in California and made the move. His sister Marian and husband Gene also came out from Ohio and they shared a house together for a time to get their start here. What a fun chaotic time they had together with all those kids! We always heard lots of laughter when those memories were shared.

Dad continued to work for Lowrey Trucking for almost 10 years. During that time, Charlotte and Frank were born. The family moved into their own house in Upland, where Dad lived until his final months. Our growing up years are all tied to that home and the love that penetrated throughout our lives.

Dad has had a few careers in his long life. He worked installing satellite dishes with his son-in-law Scotty. He had a business with his best buddy, Peter Donnelly, called Simon & Simon Keykote. He ran his own business doing home repair and was an expert on plastering and stuccoing. He taught so many young men the trades and how to be self-reliant. His first lesson was how to have a firm handshake. Even after a stroke and declining health, he could squeeze your hand till your knuckles turned white. His hearty greeting was always, “How art thou?”.

Dad was an entrepreneur and received several patents for tools he created for his business and also to help the disabled. He had a great love for the game of golf and a great respect for those who were injured serving our country in the military. He combined that passion in creating adaptive braces and clubs and held clinics for the blind and disabled with his friend, Bill Davis.

He was always so happy spending time helping others. He truly had a servant’s heart. The bulk of his life was spent supporting and working for Saint Joseph’s Hill of Hope. He was in charge of many projects on the land - building a home and maintenance buildings, creating a garden to have fresh food for the other workers and always encouraging and teaching along the way.

We, as a family, can only be grateful for the beautiful example of our Father’s life. His love penetrates down five generations to his children (7), grandchildren (23), great grandchildren (32), and great, great grandchildren (4).

We love you, Dad. Rest in peace good and faithful servant.