W. Lowery Obituary

W. Wilson Lowery Jr., a devoted husband, loving father, cherished grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home in DeBordieu Colony, Georgetown, South Carolina, on July 3, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. He was a leader in both the corporate world and public service. He was 81 years old.

Born on April 3, 1944, Wilson lived a life marked by dedication and a profound commitment to his family, friends, and community. His formative years were spent growing up on the family farm in Trenton, North Carolina, an upbringing that instilled in him a strong work ethic and deep appreciation for the land and community that shaped him. A proud Tar Heel, Wilson earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. It was during his time at UNC that he met the love of his life, Patricia, with whom he built a loving family.

Immediately following his academic career, Wilson embarked on a nearly 30-year journey with IBM. His talent and drive took him and his family across the globe, living and working in various cities throughout the United States, France, and Japan. He rose through the ranks, holding senior leadership positions in IBM finance, including CFO of Asia Pacific, Vice President of Reengineering, and Chairman of IBM Credit Corporation. His son, Layne, proudly continues his legacy at IBM today.

Upon his retirement from IBM, Wilson and Patricia realized a long-held dream, building their home in DeBordieu. However, after September 11th his call to service was far from over. He was appointed as the Executive Assistant Director Administration at the FBI, where he played a pivotal role in the transformation and digitization of the bureau under Director Robert Mueller.

In his well-deserved retirement, Wilson cultivated a passion for woodworking, creating beautiful pieces that now grace the homes of his family and friends. Wilson dedicated much of his retirement to giving back to the DeBordieu community. He served multiple times on the DeBordieu Colony Community Association (DCCA) board in numerous capacities. His contributions were recently recognized by Habitat for Humanity, with a home erected in Georgetown bearing his name.

Anyone fortunate enough to have met Wilson witnessed his characteristic kindness, warmth, wit, intelligence, and determination. He was a true gentleman who treated everyone he encountered with genuine respect and dignity.

Wilson was preceded in death by his mother, Jeanette Lowery, his father, Woodrow Wilson Lowery Sr., and his nephew Robby Daughety.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia B. Lowery; their daughter, Laura Lee Arena, and her husband, Jeffrey Arena; their son, Wilson Layne Lowery, and his wife, Elizabeth Lowery; his sisters, Annette Daughety and Janice Hontz; and their cherished grandchildren, Wilson Orion Lowery, Audrey Lee Arena, and Charlotte Patricia Lowery.

Wilson's family would like to thank his many friends, the staff of the DeBordieu club and the community association for their support and camaraderie. They would also like to express their gratitude for the dedicated support provided by his caregivers in his final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Tidelands Community Hospice, Helping Hands of Georgetown, Miss Ruby's Kids, Habitat for Humanity, or Saint Francis Animal Hospital Georgetown.

The Downtown Chapel of Mayer-Ethridge Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family.