January 27, 1936 ~ January 2, 2024
Ed, as he was fondly known to all who loved him — meaning all who knew him — was a man of almost infinite parts. To his three strong daughters, Laura, Anne and Mary Sydney, he was always, of course, “Daddy.” He was Pop to his sons-in-law, Dave, Benjie and Brian; six grandkids; and two great-grands. To Ed’s brother, Sidney, and wife, Patsy, he was Eddie. To Jonelle’s brothers and sisters, he was Ed and an immediate member of the family for 49 years, even knowing her grandmothers. He was Uncle Ed to his nieces, nephews and great-nephews. Ed’s wife, Jonelle, or JoJo as he often called her, referred to Ed as Babe, Ed Lowe, and many other things over the years!
He went from banking in Charlotte, North Carolina, to part owner and working at International Trimaran on Towles Road in Wilmington in 1966. He was a partner who sold his shares in order to build monohulls on his Trails End property and Walter Brigman signed aboard to be the Master Craftsman. From the day he put his First Citizens Bank ID badge in his desk drawer, walked out of the bank in Charlotte, went to Wilmington and found a piece of land on the waterway at Masonboro, he never looked back.
From nothing, he built a unique boatyard and marina which welcomed all and became a safe haven for all who were lucky enough to sail into Whiskey Creek: a source of good times and good friends for life — a joyous place where all was shared and the inhabitants both celebrated and comforted one another in equal measure. The building of a 37 ft. ketch, “Laura L,” in his backyard shop led to the construction of Masonboro Boat Yard and Marina on Point Daydream. Later, he added a fixed leg crane allowing several boats out of the water at one time creating a repair facility. You could hear Ed instruct “bring in the bow and let the stern hang out” when the boat was approaching the bulkhead. Owners were allowed to do their own work. Some came in for a few days and spent years living in the community captured by the infamous “Masonboro Monster.” Later, he added dry stacks and took boats in and out by the forklift, “Old Yeller.”
He was one of the most creative people the world has ever known. If his mind could visualize something, he could design and build it. It might be a magnificent sailboat, a funky floating home, a spectacular mountain house in West Virginia, or an ingenious dock bench that folded over itself so that one could sit with a view from either side.
With his charismatic personality, deep belly laughs and love of fun he easily made long-lasting friendships. With his creative mind he was always ready for the next project. After retiring in 2004, he moved to West Virginia, from hurricane alley to a flood zone, and built a house on pilings beside the Greenbrier River. Just couldn’t give up the water! In the Seebert/Marlinton area, new friends were made with each Ed Lowe Project he built with his contractor, Randy Pritt. He loved the business community as well as all the kind, interesting people who came into his life. He was at total peace with both his life in North Carolina and his life in West Virginia. There were no regrets with Ed Lowe.
Ed was lucky enough to find the love of his life and soulmate, Jonelle. Together, if they thought of an adventure, they made it happen. Always together. Always together. They spent summers in Maine camping and once cruised the Tombigbee Waterway all the way up the Mississippi River. They circumnavigated the entire eastern United States from Masonboro to the Gulf of Mexico, up many rivers, to Chicago, the Great Lakes, Canadian waters, and out the St. Lawrence Seaway. They found their home harbor on the banks of the Greenbrier River in the mountains of West Virginia. They rode their bicycles almost every day for miles and miles on the Greenbrier River Trail, the thing that brought them to West Virginia. The waters and rivers will forever sing the song of their life together.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Lantz Funeral Home in Buckeye, with Pastor Sam Felton officiating. This will be a live feed at Lantz Funeral Home Facebook page. This page has a green L.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until time of service.
In lieu of flowers donations of sympathy may be made to any of these choices: Greenbrier River Trail Assoc., PO Box 203, Marlinton, WV 24954; Pocahontas County Opera House, PO Box 282, Marlinton, WV 24954; Hillsboro Library (hillsborolibraryfriends.net), 54 3rd Street Hillsboro, WV 24946; Allegheny Mountain Radio (Alleghenymountain radio.org/supporters), 9836 Browns Creek Road, Dunmore, WV 24934; and the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Dept., 7524 Seneca Trail, Hillsboro, WV 24946.
Online condolences may be shared at Lantzfuneralhome.com
