Walter Palmer Lowery, MD, 81, completed his earthly journey on August 21, 2026 at VMRC in Harrisonburg, VA.
The son of Walter Norris Lowery and Margaret Palmer Lowery, Palmer attended Randolph Macon Academy in Front Royal, VA, from 1959 to 1961. He transferred in the fall of 1961 to Christchurch School, in Christchurch, VA and graduated from there in 1963. In 1967 he graduated from Richmond Professional Institute (now VCU) with a degree in Political Science. Palmer then served with the Army 82nd Airborne for 2 years, the first year on tour in Vietnam.
In 1972, Palmer married Diane “Chippy” Berno Moore of Richmond, VA. He attended the School of Medicine at Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, graduating in 1977. He then completed his Residency at Riverside Hospital in Newport News, VA. He and Chippy stayed in Newport News after his residency, where he practiced medicine at his urgent care center on J Clyde Morris Blvd for over 35 years and was an Associate Professor of Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, retiring in 2017.
He loved his family deeply and was profoundly proud of his children’s accomplishments, had a witty sense of humor, cared for countless patients in Newport News, and likely holds the record for finding the most sharks’ teeth walking along the beaches of the Potomac near his hometown of Montross.
Palmer is survived by his wife of 54 years, Chippy Lowery; his first son, Cullen Lowery of Louisville, KY and his children, Hayden, Clare, and Graham along with their mother, Kate McKune; his second son, Kevin Lowery of Fairfax, VA, his wife, Supna, and their children, Asha, Nya, and Kai; his third son, Brennan Lowery of New York, NY, his wife, Brittany and their children, Lennox and Saige; his fourth son, Stewart Lowery of Harrisonburg, VA, his wife, Alissa, and his sister and best friend, Peggy Burner of Montross, VA.
He was predeceased by his parents, Margaret and Norris Lowery; his like a brother brother-in-law, Robert Burner; his daughter, Amanda Burke Lowery and his grandson, Claudius Lowery.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions can be made to Andrew Chapel Cemetery Fund, c/o Jane Kaye Sisson, 224 Polk Street, Montross, VA 22520.
