Artie Craven Lowder, age 87, of 1457 Hickory Avenue, Albemarle, NC, passed away on Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 at Stanly Regional Medical Center in Albemarle, NC.  His funeral will be at 2 PM on Saturday, January 15th, 2011 at West Albemarle Baptist Church and his family will receive friends from 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM just prior to the hour of the service.  Rev. Adam Hatley and Rev. Brent Pope will officiate and burial will be in Fairview Memorial Park. 

Born April 10th, 1923 in Stanly County, NC, Mr. Lowder was the son of the late William Henry and Ada Smith Lowder and was a 1941 Graduate of Albemarle High School.  He was a retired Purchasing Agent with E.J. Snyder and Co. and Former Owner and Operator of Smith Lowder, Inc.  He was a member of West Albemarle Baptist Church, a Veteran of the US Navy - WWII, a member of the Albemarle Planning Board for the City of Albemarle, 32 degree Mason, a member of Stanly Lodge #348, a Shriner, and a Member of the Albemarle Shrine Club. 

He is survived by his wife, Velma Whitley Lowder; two sons, Michael Lowder and wife Hazel of Brevard, NC and Rahn Lowder and wife Weesie of Albemarle, NC; two daughters: Pamela L. Sadoff and husband John of Matthews, NC and Donna L. Taylor and husband Tommy of Albemarle, NC; two sisters, Helen L. Smith of Albemarle, NC and Bertha Wodolowski of Whispering Pines, NC; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.