Elizabeth Snyder Lowe

Elizabeth (Betty) Snyder Lowe passed away on May 3, 2025. She was a lifelong resident of Shepherdstown, WV. Born on May 18, 1929, she was the daughter of the late John McGarry and Sarah Folk Snyder.

She attended Shepherdstown Grade School, Shepherdstown High School, and graduated from Shepherd College in 1952. She taught in Berryville, VA, Hagerstown, MD and Augusta, GA. She substituted for 23 years in the Jefferson County School system. Her professional life was characterized by creating a balance among the demanding roles of wife, mother, teacher and businesswoman.

Elizabeth married John Douglas Lowe, Jr. on November 26, 1953, and they were married for 48 years until John’s death in 2002. Together, they co-founded Lowe Products Co., Inc, a mulch business in Shepherdstown, WV.

Elizabeth published three genealogy books about her family: “The Folks of Swan Pond,” which covers her mother’s family, “The Roots and Branches of the Jacob Snyder Family Tree,” which focuses on her father’s family, and co-authored “The Lemen Family Tree,” which details her mother’s maternal family.

Elizabeth contributed significantly to civic, social education, and religious life in her community. In 1996, she won the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Shepherdstown High School. In 2003, she was recognized as a “History Hero” in Charleston by the State of West Virginia for preserving history and genealogy. In 2008, she received the William Theriault award from the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission for her lifetime of service through research and celebrating shared history.

Elizabeth wrote a 125-year history of Jefferson Security Bank and co-authored the 145-year history of Jefferson Security Bank for its anniversary celebrations. She assisted in the publication of Shepherdstown III, a history of Shepherdstown, and authored several articles for the Jefferson County Historical Society Yearbook.

Elizabeth has served on the boards of Historic Shepherdstown Commission, Shepherdstown High School Alumni, Jefferson County Historical Society, Millbrook Orchestra, and Shepherd College Alumni.

Elizabeth served on the Shepherd University Foundation Board for 12 years. She was a member of the Scarborough Society of Shepherd University, and she held the position of secretary of the Emeritus Club. Additionally, she was on the Board of Women of the University and was part of the Joseph McMurran Society. Elizabeth was President of the Phi Sigma Chi sorority Alumni of Shepherd University for over 40 years. In 2015, Historic Shepherdstown recognized her with an award by installing the iron railing in front of the hall where her sorority gathered during its college years. In 2017, Elizabeth had a brass plaque installed on the yellow house to acknowledge the history of the house and its owner.

Elizabeth’s family has a long-standing connection with Shepherd University. Her sons, John Lowe and Scott Lowe, were the 4th generation to graduate from Shepherd University. Her grandfather, Daniel Henry Folk (Class of 1880), her mother, Sarah Folk Snyder (Class of 1913), and Elizabeth Ann Snyder Lowe (Class of 1952) all graduated from Shepherd College, now known as Shepherd University. Elizabeth received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Degree from Shepherd University in 2007. She was recognized as the Outstanding Alumni of Shepherd University in 2014.

Elizabeth was a member and served as Registrar of the Pack Horse Ford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Vice President of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was also on the Elmwood Cemetery Board.

Elizabeth was a member of the Elk Branch Presbyterian Church in Duffields, WV. She served as a Trustee and an Elder in the Church. She updated the history of Elk Branch Church for the Shenandoah Presbytery. She received a plaque from the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks for her contributions to the church.

Elizabeth, a direct descendant of Peter Burr, served on the Board of Directors for the Reliving History of the Peter Burr Society.

Elizabeth was honored by the Rotary Club for her late husband John’s work in the preservation and care of the Rumsey Monument during his lifetime. She generously shared her extensive collection of genealogies and local history with those researching their roots in the Shepherdstown area. In 2016, she was appointed Historian Laureate of Shepherdstown. Elizabeth took great pride in her heritage and had a deep affection for Shepherdstown.

Elizabeth’s family includes four sons, John Douglas, III (Renee), Scott McGarry (Kelly), Philip Andrew (Catherine), Matthew Snyder (Melinda), and a daughter, Charlotte Ann Davis (John). They all reside in the Shepherdstown and Martinsburg area. She has 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother, John McGarry Snyder, and is also survived by his wife, Helen Knighten Snyder.

The family extends appreciation for the excellent care she received at Harmony in Martinsburg and Hospice of the Panhandle.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shepherd University Endowment Scholarship in the names of John Douglas Lowe, Jr. and Elizabeth Snyder Lowe and to the Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department.

Friends and family will be received at the Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home on Friday, May 09, 2025 from 6-8 p.m.

Services will be private.

Please sign her online guestbook at www.mtstrider.com.