Maria Dolores Lowe

Maria Dolores Lowe, age 93, of West Des Moines, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, surrounded by her children. Dolores is survived by her children, Vincent Valdez (Gail), Richard DeAngelo (Diane Hermann) and Rebecca Swanger (Michael); her grandchildren, Jeremy Williams, Nick Valdez, Abigail Brammer (Joe) and John Swanger; and her great-grandchildren, Emma Williams, Maya Williams, Joseph Brammer and William Brammer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Victorina Fernandez; husband, Earl Lowe; and grandchildren, Franklin Sanchez and Emmet Brammer.

Dolores was born in San Pedro, California, on February 18, 1929, and moved to Valley Junction in West Des Moines with her parents in the early 1930s. She married Earl Lowe on May 12, 1967.

Her career was spent working in the insurance industry. She retired from IMT, previously worked at Marsh & McLennan, and got her start at Myron Freedman Insurance agency.

Dolores found joy with her husband and family. She and Earl did everything together. They were a sharp-looking, hard-working couple who loved to go out dancing with friends, then spend all day doing a house project or yard work, followed by a steak on the grill with a cold beer. They also loved to travel, especially trips to the Southwest. Music was an important part of her life, not only for dancing, but she played guitar and sang in a band as a teenager with her father. Dolores enjoyed cooking and baking, as this little dynamo had a big sweet tooth along with Earl. She was extremely organized, a self-proclaimed Trekkie and an avid reader.

She was proud of her children, and loved spending time with them, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always wanted to hear how they were doing and what was going on in their lives, sprinkling in some sage advice and family stories.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.