Walter Edison Lowe, Jr. Celebration of Life - Martha's Vineyard

Walter Edison Lowe, Jr.

A Celebration of Life

Order of Service

Welcome and Introductions .....................................Richard L. Taylor Trustee and Former President Union Chapel

Musical Prelude.............................................Dr. Geoffrey Dana Hicks Music and Vocals

Invocation.............................................. Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr. Sr. Pastor Emeritus, The Riverside Church, New York, NY

Musical Selection “If I can Help Somebody”

Scripture Readings

1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 by David Edmonds

John 14:1-7 by Nola Lancaster Whiteman

Reflections..................................................... Stephen Ross Johnson

Musical Selection “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”

Remembrances............................................................Richard Taylor

Guardsmen - Brooklyn Chapter Farewell Ceremony Michelle Stent Ewart Brown

Musical Selection “You’ve Got A Friend”

Eulogy....................................................Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr.

Benediction

Musical Postlude. “Goin’ Up Yonder”

With Gratitude

Thank you to Walter’s friends and neighbors for your expressions of love, admiration, support and condolence.

Special appreciation of the celebration of life participants including the planning committee.

Thelma Baxter

Lynne Edmonds

Toni Fay

Kharma Finley-Wallace

Vivian Male

Carol Wood Moore

Chef Deon & Emily Thomas

Nola Whiteman

The Island Inn Union Chapel

Obituary

Walter Edison Lowe, Jr. was born on February 24, 1928, at Harlem Hospital in New York City. He was the only child of Susie E. Lowe and Walter Edison Lowe, Sr. His father died when he was very young. Walter attended the famous Dunbar High School in Washington, DC, and graduated from Jamaica High School in Queens, New York.

His interest in all things mechanical took him to Adelphi University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He subsequently continued his engineering studies with extensive coursework at the Tandoe School of Engineering at New York University.

Following college, he served in the United States Navy, stationed in the South Pacific on board the USS Kearsarge LHD -2. He achieved the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer and was honorably discharged from the Anacostia Naval Station, Washington, D.C.

Taking advantage of his knowledge and experience in electrical engineering, Walter joined the Republic Aviation Corporation as a project engineer in the electronic products division. Later he joined NYNEX, now Verizon, as a project engineer in the transmission section. At NYNEX, he rose through the corporate ranks to become staff manager in affirmative action compliance, diversity, inclusion, and urban affairs.

He was also a member of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communications Engineers, the American Rocket Society, the American Society of Standards Engineers, and the Public Relations Society of America.

He also believed in giving back to the community and contributed his time to the youth in Queens County through the Boy Scouts of America, where he was certified as an Advanced Scoutmaster. Walter was active in community affairs and has served as Chairman of the Harlem YMCA, President of the Upper Manhattan Rotary Club, and member of the Martha’s Vineyard Rotary Club, the UNCF Advisory Council, and Concerned Black Executives of New York.

His affable personality and his keen interest in people, ensured that he would be an active member of the Brooklyn Chapter of the National Association of Guardsmen and he attended many of their annual events domestically and internationally. He was known for being outspoken and could definitely hold his own when it came time to agree or disagree on the many topics discussed at monthly meetings.

Walter enjoyed traveling and would make an annual trip to Barbados for an extended stay during the winter months. He also enjoyed sports as a spectator and traveled to many of the Olympic games. He took great pride in having attended the Mexico Games in 1968 when John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists with the Black Power salute. There is a signed photograph of the occasion in Walter's home.

His intellectual curiosity allowed him to be well-versed in many topics from politics to climate change, the economy, and world affairs. In all areas, he considered himself to be the most well-read and informed.

In the 1940s, his mother purchased a cottage on 47 Vineyard Ave. in Oak Bluffs, which became their homestead on the Vineyard. Walter came to love this community for its spring and summer periods as it became populated with people who came seasonally and the cohesive social atmosphere accelerated. Walter and his mother had an arrangement with the house that allowed him to invite his friends from New York City and elsewhere to stay over as long as the property was taken care of and maintained.

Oh, if those walls could talk? Well, we will not go there in order to protect the innocent and the guilty. Walter’s “ white parties”, hosted on the Vineyard, were infamous and at the same time famous for the good times, quality food, and beverages. Walter liked a good party and knew how to curate a fun-filled event. As a result of his engaging personality, social graces, and acumen, he was well-known and often called the “ Mayor of Oak Bluffs “ . Walter loved his friends and up until Covid, he took pride in hosting guests at his summer cottage.

With his knowledge and experience in engineering, he had an in-depth understanding of audiology, speaker construction, development, and installation of mid to high-end sound systems, resulting in the founding of WEL Productions. The company was sought out to install sound systems in many of the clubs and music venues in and around the Tri-state area.

Walter was married years ago for a brief time and divorced. He was a confirmed bachelor for a number of years, that was until he met and established a long-term relationship with Cheryle Wills of Cleveland, Ohio. A beautiful couple they were, as they traveled the world enjoying themselves along the way. Sadly, Cheryle’s health declined over the past twothree years and she transitioned last February. He was devoted to her even as her health declined. Toward the end of Cheryle’s life, Walter’s long-time heart challenges reoccurred. He was most recently hospitalized and transferred to a rehabilitation center to regain his mobility and strength. The prognosis for his recovery was not optimistic and he transitioned while asleep.

Walter's spirituality was fulfilled by his weekly attendance at Riverside Church, where his ashes will be interred in the church's columbarium. He was also a frequent worshiper at the Union Chapel of Oak Bluffs, the Abyssinian Baptist Church located in Harlem, pastored at the time by the late Dr. Rev. Calvin O. Butts III. Whenever Rev. Butts was on Martha's Vineyard, Walter took it upon himself and considered it his responsibility and honor to provide transport for Rev. Butts while on the island.

Walter Edison Lowe, Jr. lived a long, fun-filled life where the world was his oyster and he made friends over the decades that lasted a lifetime. He will be missed in New York City, New Jersey, Barbados, and Martha’s Vineyard.

He now joins the love of his life, Cheryle Wills, in heaven. May they begin the party anew.