WAYNESVILLE — James Allen Lowder, Sr., a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, finally succumbed from complications of pulmonary fibrosis on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
He bore the tribulations of his long illness with grace, strength, and often with humor.
Lowder is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ana Maria; his son, James Jr.; his daughter- in-law, Misako Murata; and his granddaughter Miya. He was preceded by his daughter, Teresa (Tera) Lowder.
The son of Harold and Doris Lowder of West Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively, Lowder was born in 1949 in Washington D.C. He grew up in Hyattsville, Maryland and attended Bladensburg High School, graduating in 1968.
Lowder worked briefly for the Department of Agriculture before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 19. He valued this service highly, attaining the rank of Corporal. As part of this service, Lowder served as a scout and rifleman in the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines in the Vietnam War. He enjoyed quoting “once a Marine always a Marine” After his honorable discharge in 1970, Lowder returned to the D.C. area where he soon met and married the love of his life, Ana Maria Davila. Lowder joined the Department of the Treasury and worked for the Secret Service uniformed division during the Nixon, Ford and Carter administrations.
During this time, their children, James Jr., and Teresa were born.
In 1975, Lowder and his family moved to St. Simons Island when he was assigned by the Secret Service to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco (FLETC) as a Firearms Instructor.
A few years later, Lowder began working for FLETC as a permanent employee. He was a firearms instructor for many years before becoming a Branch Chief in Firearms Training Division, Counter-Terrorism Division, and Drivers Training from which he retired in 2013.
Concurrent to his work for the Secret Service and FLETC, Lowder studied at the University of Maryland and Nova University, obtaining a Masters degree in Criminal Justice, followed by a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from John Marshall Law School.
Lowder will be remembered for his razor sharp wit, his love of boxing, dogs, his lifelong hobby of keeping tropical fish, his amazing memory for what he termed the insignificant, his larger than life personality, and his deep affection for friends and family who respected and loved him in return.
A service was held at the Jacksonville National Cemetery Monday, November 4, 2024.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.
Sympathy can be expressed by signing the online registry at www.fryefh.com.
