Dorothy J Lowder

Dorothy J. Lowder (Dot) was born on December 10, 1930 and died on July 22, 2019, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her devoted husband of 70 years, James L. Lowder (Jim), with whom she shared a lifetime of adventure, travel and love. A talented gardener and a registered nurse, Dot nurtured the plants and people in her life with the utmost care. She was active in the Berea Garden Club, the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Gardenview Horticultural Park, Lake Shore Garden Club and Bratenahl Blooms, and won many awards for her gardening and flower arranging ability. As a nurse, Dot worked in Jim’s oral surgery practice in Berea and in Millersburg, and as a hospice nurse in Holmes County. Dot was one of the founding members of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Berea, Ohio, where she sang in the choir and accompanied the children’s choir. Dot and Jim eventually split their time between St. Augustine, Florida and their farm in Killbuck, Ohio. In 2006 they moved back to the Cleveland area to live in Bratenahl. Dot is most recently a member of Old Stone Church in Cleveland.

Dot was a source of constant strength, love, support and acceptance for her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her children, James N. Lowder (Sandy), Janet L. Lowder Kinkaid (David), and Judith A. Vazquez (Doug Dickenson), her sister, Edna Kaniper, and brothers, Richard, James and Robert Greenawalt, her grandchildren Cristina Dorothy Lowder (Joseph Jacobs), Catie Lowder, Camille Lowder, Chloe Lowder, Jason A. Hamilton (Stephanie), Lauren K. Hamilton, Benjamin D. Hamilton (Erin Miller), Eduardo Vazquez (Kristen Brizzolara), Rebecca Bernstiel, Eric Vazquez (Jared Knote), Rory Wilson, Erin Wilson and Casey Hall (Peter), and great grandchildren Bianca Bernstiel, Zoe Bernstiel, Cameron Jacobs, Dorothy Hamilton and Indy Hall. Dot was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Norma Greenawalt and her daughter, Joan Dorothy Wilson.

A memorial service will be held at Old Stone Church at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 17, with reception following. Valet parking will be available at the Ontario St. entrance.