While comforted by his wife and children, our beloved husband and father, Phillip R. Lower, age 78, passed into the loving arms of our Savior on Friday, August 23, 2024. Phil was born on September 25, 1945, to Densel and Lillian (Ebersole) Lower in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Phil is the most caring, loving, and at times, ornery person you had the pleasure to meet. As a boy he was adventurous, fun loving and dare-devilish and school was not his favorite thing. He graduated from St. Vincent de Paul High School in 1964. In 1963, he called Shirley Kempton for a date and those dates lasted 2 years until they married on June 5, 1965. Phil and Shirley would spend 59 years together. Those years were filled with joy and sorrow, of feast and famine, of hard work and play. But Phil, with the Lord’s guidance, always provided for his family. He retired from Cooper Bessemer/Rolls-Royce after 49 years of employment.
A man of faith, he lived his faith by his works of service. He was a 4-H Advisor and Advisor to the Knox Valley Jr. Angler’s Fishing Club. He served on the Jr. Fair Board Planning Committee and 4-H Center Board, was a member of K. of C. Council 847 and Saint John Baptist Lamey Assembly, Maintenance Committee, and former Parish Council of St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Phil and Shirley were blessed with three wonderful children: a son, Joseph, his wife who became their daughter, Sheila Lower, and their children, T.J. and Abby Scott (children, Hailey White and Evelyn Scott), Evan and Cassie Lower, Joanna Lower; daughter, Rachel, her husband who became their son, Fred Aderhold and their children, Cody and Rachel Caddell, Gabrielle (Nate Templeton) Caddell, and Cheyenne Caddell; and daughter, Courtney Lower and her husband who became their son, Joseph Connell. Special friends who became family, Jeff, Jenny, Greg, and Kaitlynn Briggs.
Phil is survived by his brother, Robert and Kay Lower; sisters, Linda and George Vogt, Brenda and David Parr, Doris and David Schnormeier; brother-in-law, Chris Bergs; and many cherished nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marsha Bergs; and nieces, Tessa Miller and Michele Lower.
Phil often mentioned how blessed he was to be a member of the Lower and Ebersole families with the numerous Aunts and Uncles and the fun he had with his many cousins. Thank you for your love.
Our family offers a thank you to Fr. Hammond, Fr. Morris and Deacon Birie and staff of St. Vincent de Paul Church, to Hospice of Central Ohio and their caring, dedicated staff, to his Dr.’s Brent Nimeth and Ryan Westman for their compassionate care and to all who have kept Phil and our family in their thoughts and prayers.
“Say not in grief, ‘he is no more,’ but in thankfulness that he was.” Hebrew Proverb.
The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at the Snyder Funeral Homes, Flowers Chapel, 619 East High St., Mount Vernon. A prayer service will be held following the evening calling hours.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Father Mark J. Hammond as the celebrant. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Mount Vernon.
If you feel that you would like to send flowers, we would encourage you to send them to a loved one. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Church Maintenance, 303 E. High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050; or Knox County 4-H Planning Committee, c/o OSU Extension, 106 Columbus Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
To share a memory or to send an expression of sympathy visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
The Snyder Funeral Homes are honored to serve the family of Phillip R. Lower.
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Homes, Flowers Chapel
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com