Wilton Joseph Lowe Jr.

Wilton J. (W.J.) Lowe, Jr., a native of Port Allen and resident of Gonzales, died peacefully at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales Friday night, September 14, 2018. He was 82 years old and was born July 27, 1936, in Port Allen, La. to parents, Adele Langlois Lowe and Wilton J. Lowe, Sr. W.J. was baptized at Holy Family Church in Port Allen and was reared his entire formative years there. He graduated from Port Allen High School in 1954 and participated in many activities such as football, Key Club and was crowned King of Carnival for Port Allen H.S. his senior year. He was a graduate of L.S.U. with a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1958, where he was also a member of the U.S. Air Force ROTC. Wilton married the former Yvonne Plaisance of Port Allen on December 28, 1957, at Holy Family Church. He was then inducted into the U.S. Air Force in 1958 serving 3 years while stationed at MacDill A.F.B., FL and honorably discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant in 1961. After completing his military career, W.J. joined Chevron Corporation as a drilling engineer and worked for 35 years until his retirement ending his career as Chief Drilling Engineer for Chevron. As an engineer for Chevron, W.J. traveled extensively throughout the United States and the world working in such exotic locals as Nigeria, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, China, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Australia, and Canada. His career placed him at the forefront of directional drilling technology that he and Chevron helped to pioneer. W.J. held membership and leadership positions in many industry societies including, the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition (LAGCOE), International Association of Drilling Engineers, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) serving as president in 1991. An avid golfer, he was a member of several clubs across Louisiana and Texas and played many of the legendary courses nationally and worldwide. Also scoring a hole-in-one in 2011 at Pelican Point Golf Club, Gonzales – where he was a longtime member. A lifelong L.S.U. Tiger football fan and season ticket holder, he enjoyed many memorable games in Tiger Stadium throughout the years. He also enjoyed gardening, fishing, and spending time with friends and family at his beach home on the Gulf Coast. He is survived by his wife, Vonnie Lowe of Port Allen with whom he was happily married for 60 years; brothers, Carey B. Lowe and wife, Sandra of Baton Rouge, David A. Lowe of Baton Rouge; daughter, Amy Lowe Cummings and husband, Oliver of Rayne, LA; sons, Dennis M. Lowe and wife, Phyllis of Mount Vernon, OH, Guy B. Lowe and wife, Sandra of Sugar Land, TX, David A. Lowe of Poway, CA, and Kirk J. Lowe of Duluth, GA and wife, Susan of Duluth, GA, and a ward Tom Rastin and wife, Karen Buchwald Wright of Mount Vernon, OH;11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wilton J. Sr. and Adele Langlois Lowe. Pallbearers will be Dennis, Guy, Ashby, Kirk Lowe, Oliver Cummings, and Tom Rastin. The family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff at St. Elizabeth Hospital of Gonzales and the support of all his friends and neighbors of The Greens of Pelican Point. Visitation will be on Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Darrow, LA officiated by Father Lee. Burial to follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park, Baton Rouge. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the LSU Foundation-College of Engineering or charity of your choice. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.oursofh.com . Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales is in charge of arrangements.