John William Lowe, 91, Col, US Army (Retired) of Mechanicsburg, PA, passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in the Holy Spirit Medical Center. He was born on June 17, 1934, in Providence, RI, to the late Joseph A. and Jane (Crowley) Lowe and was the widower of Marilyn (Merz) Lowe, Lt. Col, US Army (Retired), who passed away in February of 2017.
During John’s long career in the US Army, he served as a Medevac helicopter pilot in Korea and Vietnam, Executive to the US Army Surgeon General, attended the US Army War College in Carlisle, PA, Commander of the 44th Medical Brigade at Ft Bragg, NC, Director of Operations for US Army Europe’s MEDCOM, and Chief of Staff of the 7th MEDCOM in Germany. After his retirement from the Army, he was selected as the inaugural president and CEO of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, where he served for 25 years. During his tenure, HJF grew to over 2600 employees globally, with a portfolio including HIV vaccine research, other infectious diseases, and combat casualty care, with major programs in Uganda and Thailand.
A resident of Annapolis, MD for decades, John shared his passion for sailing and skiing with his children, and will be remembered as an encouraging and supportive father. He encouraged self-reliance, teamwork, patience, and tolerance. He was known for his quick wit and sense of humor, full of memorable stories from his careers and childhood in Providence.
Surviving are his children, Elizabeth A. Milliner (Ron) of Florida; John M. Lowe (Maureen) of Alabama, Susan M. Butcher (David) of Florida, Stephen J. Lowe (Michele) of Maryland, Matthew S. Lowe (Julie Henninger) of Gardners, Kristina M. Lowe of Gardners, and brother, James Lowe (Judy) of New Hampshire, and by fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and wife, John was preceded in death by his siblings, Jane Flynn and Joseph Lowe.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, March 28 at 11:30 AM in the Hollinger Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 501 N. Baltimore Ave, Mt. Holly Springs, PA 17065. A visitation will be held one hour prior to services and burial will take place in the Mt. Holly Springs Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to, Hospice of the Chesapeake.