Elma M. Lowe

Elma M. Lowe passed away on June 3, 2020 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after a long illness. Elma was born on January 13, 1928 in Aspinwall, PA to Col. Arthur D. McGrew and Alice (Vickers) McGrew. The family’s origins have been traced back to the earliest Pennsylvania colonists. She graduated from Belleville (IL) Township High School in 1946, and then attended Monmouth College before marrying her high school sweetheart, Kenneth N. Lowe, on June 7, 1947. The union lasted almost 62 years, until his death in 2009. She and Ken loved to travel and saw much of North America. She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church in the areas where she resided. She enjoyed dancing with her husband, singing in the church choir, cooking fine meals for her family, and especially being a dedicated and loving mother to the five sons their marriage produced. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother, Arthur D. McGrew II of Danville, IL and her youngest son, James Arthur Lowe (Colleen) of Grand Rapids, MI. She leaves behind a large and far flung family, stretching across the entire country, who all mourn the loss of their beloved family matriarch. They include her sons, Kenneth N. II (Lee Ann) of Novato, CA, Richard B. (Mary) of Fredericksburg, VA, and twins Thomas M. (Susan) of Douglas, AZ and Timothy S. of Austin, TX. She has six grandsons, two granddaughters, and eleven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Jean Tinder of Carlinville, IL and Marilyn Symanski (Andrew) of Madison, WI. Visitation will be held at Gerst Funeral Home, 3980 Cascade Rd SE, on Friday, June 5, 2020 from 11:30am-1pm, followed by a private service. Services will be live streamed on O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Facebook page. Please go to gerstfuneralhomes.com and click on the Facebook link for Grand Rapids location, the live stream video will appear when service begins. Interment next to her husband at the Sarasota National Cemetery for Veterans will take place privately. Memorial gifts may be made to the charity of your choice.