Betty Ann (Gingerich) Lowry, 92, of Washington, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington. She joined her husband Vernie in heaven and there will be a joint visitation and funeral service. The funeral service was held Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at the United Presbyterian Church in Washington with Pastor Erin Kaye officiating. Burial was at the Sharon Hill Cemetery in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Relay for Life and the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Betty Ann (Gingerich) Lowry was born July 23, 1931, in Conesville, Iowa, the daughter of Archie and Sephronia (Nayadley) Gingerich. Betty graduated from Wellman High School and was united in marriage to Vernie W. Lowry on Dec. 26, 1950, in the United Presbyterian Parsonage. Betty and Vernie settled in Washington after Vernie got out of the Army.
She worked at a restaurant for several years until they moved to Brighton, where she managed the restaurant that was next door to the Standard Gas Station. Betty worked as a dietary aide at the University of Iowa, and later as a direct distributor for the Amway Corporation. She continued to sell products from her home and upon her retirement she enjoyed regularly attending church with Vernie at the United Presbyterian Church in Washington. She loved to preserve fruits and vegetables and was an avid fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and cared for family members as their health declined.
Following her own declining health Betty moved to the Keota Nursing Facility, later moving to the United Presbyterian Home.
Survivors include her daughter: Sandra (Larry) Lowry Zeman of Culpeper, Virginia; grandson: Brandon L. (Anissa) Zeman of Alexandria, Virginia; her sister: Carol Jones of Washington; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding Betty in death were her husband: Vernie on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023; four brothers: James and Alfred “Ole” Gingerich and Loren and Marvin Boone; and one sister: Janet Cronbaugh.
