James B. Lowe D.D.S. (Jim) was born in Muskogee, OK on December 2, 1936 to his parents Carrie Alice DeGrange and Earl Kenneth Lowe. He died peacefully in is sleep on October 6, 2023, in his Oklahoma City home. Educated in Oklahoma City public schools, despite the challenge of childhood polio he shared with his sister, he graduated from Classen High School in 1955 and later became a member of its Alumni Association Board of Directors. He attended OSU where he served as Lambda Chi Alpha President. Transferring to CSU, he continued his studies until his placement testing earned him early acceptance to Baylor College of Dentistry. There he served as President of Xi Psi Phi Professional Fraternity. Upon graduation, he returned to Oklahoma City and began his practice of General Dentistry, serving on staff at St. Anthony Hospital and McBride Clinic.
Having chaired many of its committees, Jim was a member of the Oklahoma County Dental Society (OCDS) and served as Vice President, President-Elect, and President. He particularly enjoyed representing dentistry in support of the United Appeal Campaign and Allied Arts, as well as the privilege of serving as Editor, documenting the Society’s many accomplishments for the membership. His service to dentistry was recognized by the state Oklahoma Dental Association (ODA) with the 1969 Ben Franklin Award for Journalism and the 1973 Man in Dentistry Award. In addition to serving on many committees and councils, he served on the ODA Board of Trustees and on its Executive Committee as Secretary-Treasurer. Jim felt especially privileged, among many roles, to serve the Oklahoma Dental Foundation (ODF) as Chair of the Mighty Mouth Exhibit at Omniplex, Chair of the Building Committee for the new ODA/ODF Offices, ODF Secretary-Treasurer, and President. He was honored to further serve dentistry as Secretary-Treasurer of the Oklahoma Dental Political Action Committee (DENPAC) as an Action Team Leader and was especially pleased to serve on the National Museum of Dentistry Advisory Board. He donated his time and services locally to the community as a volunteer for both the Variety Club Health Center Clinic and for D-Dent (Dentists for the Disabled and Elderly in Need of Treatment), serving also a term as President of its Board of Directors.
Jim felt especially honored to serve as a Board Member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and to be an advocate for the establishment of the first College of Dentistry in Oklahoma. He was a member of Rotary International Club 29. Faith, family, and, yes, fun were also a priority for him and for his family throughout his life. As a member of First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City, he served on the Mission Council and as both a Deacon and as an Elder, as well as a high school Sunday School Teacher. His membership in The Gideons was precious to him. He always found time to support the interests and activities of his daughter, son, and wife. Always finding time for fun with his family and friends, he served as President of the Mayfair, the city’s oldest dance club and later as a member of the 75 Club and the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. He was a Century Club Member at Quail Creek Golf & Country Club and enjoyed many travels with his family and friends.
Preceding him in death are his parents, his sister-in-law, Nancy Means Edwards, and his brother-in-law, Lt. Col Charles Ernce. Surviving Jim are his wife, Linda Means Lowe, son James B. Lowe, III, M.D., daughter Elizabeth Lowe Ahearn, grandchildren Alexandra Ahearn, Brandon Ahearn, James Lowe, Jacob Lowe, and Robert “Bobby” Lowe, sister Patricia Lowe Ernce, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held on October 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City. The family will receive friends for visitation from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. October 13, 2023 at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors. In remembrance of Jim, the family kindly suggests that in place of flowers, donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City at fpcokc.org.
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