Lowry Mann Close

After a long struggle with cancer, Lowry Mann Close, 69, of Alexandria, Virginia, died at Gilchrist Hospice, Towson, Maryland on Wednesday, 10 February. He was born on 23 October, 1946, in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Philip Henry Close, Jr. and Annette Mann Close. His early years were spent in Harford County, Maryland. The family moved to a farm near Littlestown, Pennsylvania, when he was 8. He graduated from Littlestown High School in 1964. Lowry attended the University of Virginia graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1968. He then joined the U. S. Army and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant upon completion of the Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia before serving in Vietnam. On R & R from Vietnam he began his lifelong interest in New Zealand and Australia. Upon his return he commenced his career in civil engineering working throughout the country on a variety of projects including dams, tunnels, bridges and Prudhoe Bay. More recently he worked for Clark Construction on various projects in the Washington, D. C. area. Lowry was an avid Scottish Country Dancer joining a local group wherever his travels took him. Likewise he attended services at the local church or Quaker meeting.

Lowry is survived by his brother, Philip Henry Close and his wife Rosemary, of Turnberry, Scotland and their daughters: Heather Elizabeth Close of Birmingham, England; Joanne Henry and her daughter Amara Rose and son Caleb Lamar Philip of Turnberry, Scotland; and son Philip Owen Close, his wife Yingjun Yuan and daughter Emma Elizabeth Close of Brussels, Belgium.

A funeral service will be held at noon on Tuesday, 23 February, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Abingdon) near Bel Air, Maryland. Interment will follow in the church yard with a reception in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the local charity of your choice which supports physical activities or healthy low sugar/carbohydrate living.