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Citizen says goodbye to local storyteller
Husband. Father. Grandfather. Veteran. Doctor. Follower of Christ. History buff. Photographer. Storyteller. Artist.
Dr. Robert “Bob” Lowe wore many hats throughout his life, and one of his favorites was that of Texas historian and storyteller.
Lowe died May 27 at the age of 84. He was a longtime special contributing writer for the Colorado County Citizen, frequently submitting photography, paintings and articles on veterans affairs, regional history and notable historical figures. One of his favorite subjects was Sam Houston. Lowe’s March 4, 2020, article, “Sam Houston, the Hero of San Jacinto and the Election of 1860,” was a reader favorite.
A lifelong lover of the arts, Lowe reflected on his passion in a 2013 Citizen interview.
“I always took art electives in high school when they were available,” he said. “My folks pointed me toward medicine, so I postponed my passion until later in life.”
Hours of Lowe’s travelogues are archived at Nesbitt Memorial Library, and hundreds of his published articles and photographs are preserved in the Citizen and other publications throughout
As a retired ophthalmologist, Lowe possessed a keen eye for detail and design. That talent helped him capture the essence of people, places and moments through writing, photography, videography and painting.
One of Lowe’s photographs, titled “The Hug,” was featured in the 2019 Vietnam Veterans of America calendar distributed nationwide.
The Citizen’s Nov. 6, 2019, Veterans Day commemorat ive edit ion, which included a special “Salute to Veterans” section, featured several of Lowe’s poignant articles highlighting local veterans and their military experiences.
His abi l ity to draw readers into the stories of those who served was remarkable. From the opening sentence to the final word, Lowe held readers’ attention with compelling narratives that honored both sacrifice and service.
His extensive historical research often connected world, national, state and local events, helping readers better understand the broader context of history.
In his June 5, 2019, article, “D-Day 75th Anniversary: Local Men Were On, Above the Beaches,” Lowe shared the experiences of local veterans John Hancher and Johnnie Rerich, preserving their stories for future generations.
One of Lowe’s final contributions to the Citizen appeared in the May 13, 2026, edition, where he was quoted in an article about members of Columbus Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1127 participating in the May Honor Flight.
The Honor Flight is an all- expenses-paid trip from Austin to Washington, D.C., organized by Honor Flight Austin. The experience gives veterans an opportunity to honor fallen comrades, visit memorials and share memories with fellow veterans.
Lowe said the Columbus group planned to locate the names of five Colorado County soldiers who were killed in action during the Vietnam War and pay special tribute to them during the trip.
Throughout his life, Lowe’s actions reflected his commitment to serving others.
His career as an ophthalmologist demonstrated his dedicat ion to helping people maintain and improve their vision. His mi l itary service reflected his belief in duty, freedom and justice. His compassion for fel low veterans was evident in the countless stories he told on their behalf, ensuring their experiences would not be forgotten.
Lowe’s passion for storytelling, photography, videography and painting touched people near and far. His contributions enriched the pages of the Citizen and preserved important pieces of local history. He will be deeply missed by the Citizen staff, readers and the many people whose lives he touched through his work.
Memor ials may be made to Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1127, P.O. Box 605, Columbus, TX 78934; St . Pau l Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 267, Columbus, TX 78934; or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Lowe’s obituary appears on Page 2 of this edition of the Citizen.
