James B. Lowther

James B. Lowther

James B. Lowther was born on April 16, 1944, in Ames, Iowa, and departed this earthly plane of existence on April 22, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Birk C. Lowther and was raised by his mother and stepfather, Frances and Talmage Somerville, in Harrisville and on Walnut Hill Farm near Auburn, West Virginia. He was a graduate of Michigan State University and served in the US Navy during the Vietnam era, from 1968 to 1974. He was a published fantasy-science fiction writer and worked at times as a teacher, a tree planter, and a farmer. His high school yearbook (Harrisville High School 1962) described him as “A man of few words, but those few count.” He was a man of great intellect and a student of nearly everything, but it must be admitted that “few words” grew less applicable as the years went by.

Jim is survived by his brothers, George Somerville (and his wife Betsy), of Richmond, Virginia, Steven E. Lowther (Mary), of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and William E. Lowther (Jody), of Golden, Colorado; sisters Katherine Smola (Jim), of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Rebecca Clark (Larry), of Willmar, Minnesota, and Jeanne Fox (Guy), of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota; nephews Chris Somerville (Lindsay), Thomas Somerville (Leslie), David Somerville, and Stephen Somerville, all of Richmond; great-nieces Elanor and Virginia Somerville; and numerous other nieces and nephews and their children. He was predeceased by his parents, his stepfather, and his sister Susan Wilson, of Chicago.

A memorial service will be held at Community West Church in Richmond at 11 AM on April 28, followed by a graveside service at the Auburn Cemetery at a date to be determined later.