Obituary of Mills Thomas Lowe MILLS T. LOWE Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - November 12, 1998 Mills Thomas Lowe, 2nd Lt. U.S. Army (Ret.), recipient of the Purple Heart, Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in World War II, died Nov. 11, 1998, in his home. Born April 27, 1919, in Ahoskie, N.C., and reared in Gates County, he was a son of the late William Patrick and Molly Wilder Greene Lowe. Enlisted with the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, he was awarded a battlefield commission. Mr. Lowe received the Silver Star when he single-handedly recaptured a machine gun position at tremendous risk to his own life, repulsing numerous enemy attacks, stubbornly refusing to abandon his position, and ultimately engaging in hand-to-hand combat. His record of award decoration sites that his ``outstanding courage, daring initiative, and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military service.'' His Distinguished Service Cross was awarded for outstanding leadership and heroic actions in repelling six fanatical attacks by a superior enemy force of 300, personally manning captured machine guns, constantly exposing himself to enemy fire, skillfully coordinating his command of 24 men, again engaging in hand-to-hand combat and resulting in the enemy withdrawing with heavy losses. Mr. Lowe was medically retired from the military as a result of injuries sustained in combat. He was retired from the Maintenance Department of Union Camp Corporation. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World, American Legion, the Loyal Order of Moose, and an honorary member of the Delaware Hunt Club. He was a member of High Street United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Ida Seeley ``Dickie'' Lowe; a daughter, Susan Lowe Blevins of Abingdon, Va.; a sister, Louise Sawyer of Franklin; a brother, Louis D. Lowe Sr. of Franklin; two grandchildren, Jonathan Patrick Blevins and William Eric Blevins, both of Abingdon; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Mitchell Lowe. A funeral with full military honors will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at High Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Edward C. Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Poplar Spring Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Wright Funeral Home and suggests that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. Ruth Petty, 116 Southampton Road, Franklin, Va. 23851 or to the Southampton Memorial Hospice, 102 N. Mechanic St., Franklin, Va. 23851. Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: B9 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary ––– Mills Thomas Lowe, a decorated U.S. Army officer and World War II hero, died 11 Nov 1998 at his home in Franklin, Virginia. A funeral with full military honors was held 14 Nov 1998 at High Street United Methodist Church, Franklin, Virginia, officiated by Rev. Edward C. Johnson, with burial in Poplar Spring Cemetery. ––– Transcript ––– MILLS T. LOWE Mills Thomas Lowe, 2nd Lt. U.S. Army (Ret.), recipient of the Purple Heart, Silver Star, and the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in World War II, died 11 November 1998 in his home. Born 27 April 1919 in Ahoskie, North Carolina, and reared in Gates County, he was a son of the late William Patrick and Molly Wilder Greene Lowe. Enlisted with the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, he was awarded a battlefield commission. Mr. Lowe received the Silver Star when he single-handedly recaptured a machine gun position at tremendous risk to his own life, repulsing numerous enemy attacks, stubbornly refusing to abandon his position, and ultimately engaging in hand-to-hand combat. His record of award decoration cites that his "outstanding courage, daring initiative, and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military service." His Distinguished Service Cross was awarded for outstanding leadership and heroic actions in repelling six fanatical attacks by a superior enemy force of 300, personally manning captured machine guns, constantly exposing himself to enemy fire, skillfully coordinating his command of 24 men, again engaging in hand-to-hand combat, and resulting in the enemy withdrawing with heavy losses. Mr. Lowe was medically retired from the military as a result of injuries sustained in combat. He was retired from the Maintenance Department of Union Camp Corporation. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World, American Legion, the Loyal Order of Moose, and an honorary member of the Delaware Hunt Club. He was a member of High Street United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Ida Seeley "Dickie" Lowe; a daughter, Susan Lowe Blevins of Abingdon, Virginia; a sister, Louise Sawyer of Franklin; a brother, Louis D. Lowe Sr. of Franklin; two grandchildren, Jonathan Patrick Blevins and William Eric Blevins, both of Abingdon; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Mitchell Lowe. A funeral with full military honors was conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday [14 November 1998] at High Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Edward C. Johnson officiating. Burial was in Poplar Spring Cemetery. The family received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday [13 November 1998] at Wright Funeral Home and suggested that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. Ruth Petty, 116 Southampton Road, Franklin, Virginia 23851, or to the Southampton Memorial Hospice, 102 N. Mechanic Street, Franklin, Virginia 23851. ––– Vital Statistics ––– |------------------------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Name | Mills Thomas Lowe | | Age | 79 | | Birth | 27 April 1919; Ahoskie, North Carolina | | Death | 11 November 1998; Franklin, Virginia | |------------------------------------------------| ––– Table of Relationships ––– |--------------------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Relationship | Residence | | Mills Thomas Lowe | Decedent | Franklin, Virginia | | Ida Seeley "Dickie" Lowe | Wife | Franklin, Virginia | | Susan Lowe Blevins | Daughter | Abingdon, Virginia | | Louise Sawyer | Sister | Franklin, Virginia | | Louis D. Lowe Sr. | Brother | Franklin, Virginia | | Jonathan Patrick Blevins | Grandson | Abingdon, Virginia | | William Eric Blevins | Grandson | Abingdon, Virginia | | William Patrick Lowe | Father (deceased) | [Not stated] | | Molly Wilder Greene Lowe | Mother (deceased) | [Not stated] | | Mitchell Lowe | Brother (deceased) | [Not stated] | |--------------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Publication Details ––– |---------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Location | Norfolk, Virginia | | Name | Virginian-Pilot, The | | Date | 12 November 1998 | | Edition | FINAL | | Section | LOCAL | | Page | B9 | |---------------------------------| ––– Other Relevant Information ––– • Full birth name: Mills Thomas Lowe • Spouse's birth name: Ida Seeley • Retired from the Maintenance Department of Union Camp Corporation • Received the Purple Heart, Silver Star, and Distinguished Service Cross • Served with the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division • Member of High Street United Methodist Church • Member of Woodmen of the World, American Legion, and the Loyal Order of Moose • Honorary member of the Delaware Hunt Club [Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may have contributed to the creation of this text. 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