Virginia Elise (Briix) Lowther, 80, Emporia, Kansas, died Sunday, December 25, 2011 at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, following a two-year battle with cancer.
Born in Herington, Kansas on July 1, 1931, the daughter of Robert Clyde Briix (Marie Boyer) and Wanda Ione Zirkle (Frank Jilka). They and a sister, Carolyn Lee, preceded her in death.
She attended grade school at Delavan, Kansas, and graduated from Herington High School in 1949 as Salutatorian of her class. She graduated from Kansas State Teachers College in 1953 with a B.S. degree in business.
She married James E. Lowther on January 29, 1955 in Herington. He survives. She is also survived by two daughters, Rebecca L. Doan (John), Wichita, Kansas, and Anne E. Downing (George), Rose Hill, Kansas; four grandchildren, Rachel Dillon, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jane Guilfoyle, Colby, Kansas, Gregory Guilfoyle, Flagstaff, Arizona, and Paige Downing, Rose Hill, Kansas; and a sister, Bonita Thompson, McPherson, Kansas.
Mrs. Lowther was involved in the Emporia community. She was a member of the Emporia Presbyterian Church and served on the church Mission/Building Fund as secretary. She was a member and past president of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and served as treasurer of the Alumni Association. She was active in obtaining financing to build the present sorority house at 22 West 12th Avenue. She served as president of the board of the Emporia Public Library during construction of the present library building. During her college years and for a while afterward, she worked in the Placement Office at Emporia State University. In later years, she worked for Heath & Bloxom Insurance Agency.
Her memberships included the Emporia Arts Council, P.E.O. Chapter HY, Research Study Club, Futures Unlimited Investment Club, and a book club. She previously served on the Newman Hospital Auxiliary, the Junto Study Club, the Social Service Club, Kansas Legislative Spouses, the bell choir at First Presbyterian Church, the SOS board, the Lyon County Museum Board and the Howe House Board, the Emporia Main Street design committee, and Friends of the Library. She was active politically, serving several years as the head judge of election boards and for many years she was elected as a Republican Precinct Committeewoman.
The doctors at the KU Cancer Center said Virginia was an amazing patient to endure so many treatments during her two-year struggle with cancer. Until only a few weeks before her strength began to fail, she was active and involved in activities, and she led a full life with many interests. She enjoyed music, especially, and also the arts. Her home was filled with paintings acquired over the years. She was an avid reader – novels, magazines and three newspapers. Her other interests included finance and investing, and travel - from England to Athens, to Hawaii and Hong Kong. Her other interests included tennis, skiing, walking, playing bridge, Mahjongg, and cribbage, and sports, especially KU Basketball. She skied and played doubles tennis for many seasons.
Virginia had many friends whom she appreciated. She spent many happy hours with them socially, and also in activities of common interest. Her life overflowed with her friends and her interests, yet her focus was foremost always her family.
Mrs. Lowther was cremated. The memorial service will be at the Emporia Presbyterian Church West Campus on December 31, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Ron Phelps will conduct the service, with Ashley Masoni, Chaplain at the KU Medical Center, delivering the message. Private inurnment will be at Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Emporia. Contributions in her memory may be made to The Emporia Public Library, Newman Regional Hospital Foundation, or the KU Cancer Center, and sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Virginia Elise Lowther, please visit our flower store.
Born in Herington, Kansas on July 1, 1931, the daughter of Robert Clyde Briix (Marie Boyer) and Wanda Ione Zirkle (Frank Jilka). They and a sister, Carolyn Lee, preceded her in death.
She attended grade school at Delavan, Kansas, and graduated from Herington High School in 1949 as Salutatorian of her class. She graduated from Kansas State Teachers College in 1953 with a B.S. degree in business.
She married James E. Lowther on January 29, 1955 in Herington. He survives. She is also survived by two daughters, Rebecca L. Doan (John), Wichita, Kansas, and Anne E. Downing (George), Rose Hill, Kansas; four grandchildren, Rachel Dillon, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jane Guilfoyle, Colby, Kansas, Gregory Guilfoyle, Flagstaff, Arizona, and Paige Downing, Rose Hill, Kansas; and a sister, Bonita Thompson, McPherson, Kansas.
Mrs. Lowther was involved in the Emporia community. She was a member of the Emporia Presbyterian Church and served on the church Mission/Building Fund as secretary. She was a member and past president of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and served as treasurer of the Alumni Association. She was active in obtaining financing to build the present sorority house at 22 West 12th Avenue. She served as president of the board of the Emporia Public Library during construction of the present library building. During her college years and for a while afterward, she worked in the Placement Office at Emporia State University. In later years, she worked for Heath & Bloxom Insurance Agency.
Her memberships included the Emporia Arts Council, P.E.O. Chapter HY, Research Study Club, Futures Unlimited Investment Club, and a book club. She previously served on the Newman Hospital Auxiliary, the Junto Study Club, the Social Service Club, Kansas Legislative Spouses, the bell choir at First Presbyterian Church, the SOS board, the Lyon County Museum Board and the Howe House Board, the Emporia Main Street design committee, and Friends of the Library. She was active politically, serving several years as the head judge of election boards and for many years she was elected as a Republican Precinct Committeewoman.
The doctors at the KU Cancer Center said Virginia was an amazing patient to endure so many treatments during her two-year struggle with cancer. Until only a few weeks before her strength began to fail, she was active and involved in activities, and she led a full life with many interests. She enjoyed music, especially, and also the arts. Her home was filled with paintings acquired over the years. She was an avid reader – novels, magazines and three newspapers. Her other interests included finance and investing, and travel - from England to Athens, to Hawaii and Hong Kong. Her other interests included tennis, skiing, walking, playing bridge, Mahjongg, and cribbage, and sports, especially KU Basketball. She skied and played doubles tennis for many seasons.
Virginia had many friends whom she appreciated. She spent many happy hours with them socially, and also in activities of common interest. Her life overflowed with her friends and her interests, yet her focus was foremost always her family.
Mrs. Lowther was cremated. The memorial service will be at the Emporia Presbyterian Church West Campus on December 31, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Ron Phelps will conduct the service, with Ashley Masoni, Chaplain at the KU Medical Center, delivering the message. Private inurnment will be at Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Emporia. Contributions in her memory may be made to The Emporia Public Library, Newman Regional Hospital Foundation, or the KU Cancer Center, and sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Virginia Elise Lowther, please visit our flower store.
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