William D. Lower

William D. Lower (Bill), 89, of Terre Haute, Indiana, passed away Saturday evening March 23, 2024. Bill retired from the Legal Department of the City of Terre Haute after 22 years, where he had been the President of the Board of Public Works, and previously Deputy City Clerk. Bill was born in Minier Illinois, to Lawrence (Jack) Lower and Mary Callahan Lower.

Survivors include two sons, William D. Lower, Jr. (Brenda) of Terre Haute Indiana, and Robert L. Lower (Ebbie) of Imperial Missouri, three grandchildren, Courtney A. Littrell (Justin) of Brownsburg Indiana, William D. Lower III (Shelby) of Bellevue Nebraska, and Matthew C. Lower of Crawfordsville Indiana, five great grandchildren, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his former wife Betty Smith Lower, his brother Jack Lower (Jackie), his sister and brother-in-law Mary and Harry Hough, and his daughter Dr. Tracy Lower.

Bill attended his senior year and graduated from Gerstmeyer High School in Terre Haute, with the three prior years of high school attending Our Lady of the Lake Seminary in Syracuse Indiana, as well as two years of college at the Seminary. He always referred to his years of education with the Croziers as an invaluable classic education, with focus on Latin and Greek. Bill joined the Air Force in 1954, where he worked in electronics and the development of the first autotracking radar. Following his military service, he returned to Terre Haute to complete undergraduate and a Masters degree at ISU, then went to University of Illinois. After moving to Pontiac Illinois in 1963 as department head for the English department, Bill joined the Administration and Faculty of Winston Churchill College in Pontiac Illinois, ultimately become acting president of the College. At Churchill’s closure in 1971, he was recognized with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree for his contributions in education. He returned to teaching at Pontiac High School, and after raising a family in Pontiac, Bill returned to Terre Haute, where he enjoyed a long and satisfying career working for the community and City of Terre Haute.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 30, from 1pm to 4pm at Callahan and Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street in Terre Haute, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, the Lower family kindly request memorial contributions in his name be made to The Gibson Family Center for Hospice Care in Terre Haute, Indiana.