Obituary for R. Wayne Lowe
R. Wayne Lowe
August 11, 1938 - December 15, 2020 (age 82)
Pillar of the Middle Georgia community for over half a century, Robert “Wayne” Lowe of Warner Robins, Georgia passed away during the early hours of Tuesday morning, December 15, 2020.
Wayne was born in Eastman, Georgia on August 11, 1938 to Barbara and Joe B. Lowe. Wayne’s father served as a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force for 26 years. As such, the family moved all around the southeast before settling in Savannah, Georgia, where Wayne would meet the love of his life, Betty Jean Hendrix. A whirlwind romance ensued and just a year later Wayne married his best friend on August 17, 1957 at Bull Street Baptist Church in Savannah.
In 1958, Wayne and Betty moved to Warner Robins to pursue business opportunities and start a family. They were blessed with three children: Cynthia, Randall, and Deborah. While Betty made the home, Wayne began his career, first at a local furniture store and then later as a medical supplies and equipment salesman. In 1968, he started his own company, Medical Furnishings, Inc.—which is still in operation today—and was soon followed by the construction of his first nursing home in 1970: Elberta Convalescent Home on Elberta Road, Warner Robins.
Wayne would go on to build 33 more nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the Southeast. Not a man to be tied to one industry, during the next five decades Wayne maintained a General Contractor License and injected millions of dollars into the community with his business interests in hospitality, commercial and residential real estate, professional office space, golf courses, banking, and luxury motorhome and transportation buses. Included in this vast business portfolio were such familiar names to local residents as International City Bank (later purchased by CB&T), the Ramada Inn (East Inn), the Landings golf course, Diamond Coach, Peach Blossom, Statham’s Landing, The Park, Summer’s Landing, and the Lodge.
Wayne entered the auto dealership industry in 1996 and partnered with Eddie Wiggins Ford, Warner Robins; Eddie Wiggins Toyota, then Toyota on the Parkway; Eddie Wiggins Chevrolet in Warner Robins. In 1999, he partnered with Jerry Barker Chevrolet-Hummer; and Wiggins Ford in Forsyth as well as Wiggins Chevrolet in Greensboro, Georgia. He became sole owner of Toyota on the Parkway which then became Lowe Toyota. In perhaps his most memorable endeavor, Wayne built the successful Toyota dealership on Houston Lake Road in 2009, which continues to thrive today under the name, Lowe Toyota. He starred in hundreds of commercials and was a familiar face to many Middle Georgians on countless billboards across the community.
Wayne and Betty loved to travel. He and Betty were fortunate enough to visit such far-flung places as Japan, Korea, Thailand, Italy, the United Kingdom, Greece, Russia, Japan, and Australia. In addition to their globe-trekking, Wayne and Betty cherished spending time together exploring the four corners of the contiguous United States and everywhere in-between in their motorhome. Wayne entered the motorhome industry in 1985, thereby allowing he and Betty to combine their love of travel with business. Travel by air was also a passion, and Wayne enjoyed flying around the country with his friends and family in his personal jet.
Betty and Wayne found their spiritual home at First United Methodist Church, where Wayne was an active member of the congregation since 1959. He held several lay leadership roles at the church, most notably, chair of the finance committee for 40 years, as a Sunday school teacher, and as a member of the Chancellor Choir for almost half a century.
In addition to his weekly church participation, Wayne was heavily involved in the local community and his personal philosophy was “see a need and fill the need.” Putting this philosophy into practice for the benefit the community, Wayne served on the Houston County School Board from 1977-1981, as well as the Museum of Aviation Foundation Board, and as the Treasurer for the 21st Century Partnership Board. Wayne was also a member of the Robins Regional Chamber and a principal shareholder at Planter’s First Bank. In March of this year, and through a partnership of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, the Houston County Development Authority, the Houston County Board of Education, and the Warner Robins-Air Logistics Complex, the “R. Wayne Lowe Synergy Innovation Complex” was announced, which will add at least 150 new employees to the local workforce and contribute to keeping America on the cutting edge of software work to benefit the community and national defense. Wayne was a longtime supporter of Robins Air Force Base.
Wayne is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Lowe Smith (Johnny, deceased) of Warner Robins, Georgia; his son, Randall Lowe (Joshua) of Orlando, Florida; his daughter, Deborah Lowe Meade (Randall) of Kathleen, Georgia; his seven grandchildren: Tiffanie Jordan (James), Brittanie Anderson (Brian), Jeremy Smith (Lesli), Erik Meade, Kaelyn Parker (Jamie), Robert Lowe-Melendez, and Jacob Lowe-Melendez; and his great grandson, Axl Anderson. Wayne was preceded in death by his best friend and beloved wife of 62 years, Betty. Wayne married Annie Ruth Mercer Lowe on Friday, November 13, 2020.
Mr. Lowe will lie in state at Burpee-Scott Memorial Chapel & Crematory on Saturday, December 19, 2020 and Sunday, December 20, 2020 from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm. Social distancing and face coverings are required. The family will not be in attendance at any announced time, but friends are encouraged to visit the funeral home to view Mr. Lowe, sign the guestbook and to leave a special memory on our condolences page for the family. A private family graveside will be held at Magnolia Park Cemetery.
In Wayne’s memory, please support your local florist or send donations to First United Methodist Church in Warner Robins, the Warner Robins Museum of Aviation Foundation, or to the 21st Century Partnership.
Please visit www.burpeescottmemorialchapel.com to sign the online guestbook, view the video tribute and to leave a memorial tribute for the family. With honor, Burpee-Scott Memorial Chapel & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.
August 11, 1938 - December 15, 2020 (age 82)
Pillar of the Middle Georgia community for over half a century, Robert “Wayne” Lowe of Warner Robins, Georgia passed away during the early hours of Tuesday morning, December 15, 2020.
Wayne was born in Eastman, Georgia on August 11, 1938 to Barbara and Joe B. Lowe. Wayne’s father served as a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force for 26 years. As such, the family moved all around the southeast before settling in Savannah, Georgia, where Wayne would meet the love of his life, Betty Jean Hendrix. A whirlwind romance ensued and just a year later Wayne married his best friend on August 17, 1957 at Bull Street Baptist Church in Savannah.
In 1958, Wayne and Betty moved to Warner Robins to pursue business opportunities and start a family. They were blessed with three children: Cynthia, Randall, and Deborah. While Betty made the home, Wayne began his career, first at a local furniture store and then later as a medical supplies and equipment salesman. In 1968, he started his own company, Medical Furnishings, Inc.—which is still in operation today—and was soon followed by the construction of his first nursing home in 1970: Elberta Convalescent Home on Elberta Road, Warner Robins.
Wayne would go on to build 33 more nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the Southeast. Not a man to be tied to one industry, during the next five decades Wayne maintained a General Contractor License and injected millions of dollars into the community with his business interests in hospitality, commercial and residential real estate, professional office space, golf courses, banking, and luxury motorhome and transportation buses. Included in this vast business portfolio were such familiar names to local residents as International City Bank (later purchased by CB&T), the Ramada Inn (East Inn), the Landings golf course, Diamond Coach, Peach Blossom, Statham’s Landing, The Park, Summer’s Landing, and the Lodge.
Wayne entered the auto dealership industry in 1996 and partnered with Eddie Wiggins Ford, Warner Robins; Eddie Wiggins Toyota, then Toyota on the Parkway; Eddie Wiggins Chevrolet in Warner Robins. In 1999, he partnered with Jerry Barker Chevrolet-Hummer; and Wiggins Ford in Forsyth as well as Wiggins Chevrolet in Greensboro, Georgia. He became sole owner of Toyota on the Parkway which then became Lowe Toyota. In perhaps his most memorable endeavor, Wayne built the successful Toyota dealership on Houston Lake Road in 2009, which continues to thrive today under the name, Lowe Toyota. He starred in hundreds of commercials and was a familiar face to many Middle Georgians on countless billboards across the community.
Wayne and Betty loved to travel. He and Betty were fortunate enough to visit such far-flung places as Japan, Korea, Thailand, Italy, the United Kingdom, Greece, Russia, Japan, and Australia. In addition to their globe-trekking, Wayne and Betty cherished spending time together exploring the four corners of the contiguous United States and everywhere in-between in their motorhome. Wayne entered the motorhome industry in 1985, thereby allowing he and Betty to combine their love of travel with business. Travel by air was also a passion, and Wayne enjoyed flying around the country with his friends and family in his personal jet.
Betty and Wayne found their spiritual home at First United Methodist Church, where Wayne was an active member of the congregation since 1959. He held several lay leadership roles at the church, most notably, chair of the finance committee for 40 years, as a Sunday school teacher, and as a member of the Chancellor Choir for almost half a century.
In addition to his weekly church participation, Wayne was heavily involved in the local community and his personal philosophy was “see a need and fill the need.” Putting this philosophy into practice for the benefit the community, Wayne served on the Houston County School Board from 1977-1981, as well as the Museum of Aviation Foundation Board, and as the Treasurer for the 21st Century Partnership Board. Wayne was also a member of the Robins Regional Chamber and a principal shareholder at Planter’s First Bank. In March of this year, and through a partnership of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, the Houston County Development Authority, the Houston County Board of Education, and the Warner Robins-Air Logistics Complex, the “R. Wayne Lowe Synergy Innovation Complex” was announced, which will add at least 150 new employees to the local workforce and contribute to keeping America on the cutting edge of software work to benefit the community and national defense. Wayne was a longtime supporter of Robins Air Force Base.
Wayne is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Lowe Smith (Johnny, deceased) of Warner Robins, Georgia; his son, Randall Lowe (Joshua) of Orlando, Florida; his daughter, Deborah Lowe Meade (Randall) of Kathleen, Georgia; his seven grandchildren: Tiffanie Jordan (James), Brittanie Anderson (Brian), Jeremy Smith (Lesli), Erik Meade, Kaelyn Parker (Jamie), Robert Lowe-Melendez, and Jacob Lowe-Melendez; and his great grandson, Axl Anderson. Wayne was preceded in death by his best friend and beloved wife of 62 years, Betty. Wayne married Annie Ruth Mercer Lowe on Friday, November 13, 2020.
Mr. Lowe will lie in state at Burpee-Scott Memorial Chapel & Crematory on Saturday, December 19, 2020 and Sunday, December 20, 2020 from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm. Social distancing and face coverings are required. The family will not be in attendance at any announced time, but friends are encouraged to visit the funeral home to view Mr. Lowe, sign the guestbook and to leave a special memory on our condolences page for the family. A private family graveside will be held at Magnolia Park Cemetery.
In Wayne’s memory, please support your local florist or send donations to First United Methodist Church in Warner Robins, the Warner Robins Museum of Aviation Foundation, or to the 21st Century Partnership.
Please visit www.burpeescottmemorialchapel.com to sign the online guestbook, view the video tribute and to leave a memorial tribute for the family. With honor, Burpee-Scott Memorial Chapel & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.