Lowell Stewart, who served Butler County’s veterans for decades, dies at 80

Butler County Veterans Service Commission Executive Director Caroline Bier presents retiring Commissioner Lowell Stewart with a plaque at his last meeting on the board in2017.

Butler County Veterans Service Commission Executive Director Caroline Bier presents retiring Commissioner Lowell Stewart with a plaque at his last meeting on the board in2017.

Longtime Butler County Veterans Service Commissioner Lowell Stewart died last weekend. He was 80.

Stewart retired from the commission in December 2017 after 22 years. During a celebration in his honor, Executive Director Caroline Bier presented Stewart with a plaque and Board President Chuck Weber thanked him for his service.

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“Lowell, you’re a champ, we appreciate it, we’re going to miss you,” Weber said.

Commissioner Tom Jeffers also had kind words for Stewart when he retired. The vet board had a tumultuous past, but Jeffers said Stewart helped change that.

“In the last couple years he’s tried to move forward,” Jeffers said. “I think Lowell wanted to have everything go good and help the veterans and make sure we weren’t into the bickering mode as it was when I got in. He welcomed me with open arms and helped me get through the first year. I think Lowell has been a very positive influence.”

Stewart, of Hamilton, died at Hospice of Hamilton on Saturday. He was born on Feb. 25, 1939, in Manchester, Kentucky, according to his obituary.

Stewart served in the U.S. Air Force from 1959 to 1963, and he was a retiree of Champion Paper Company after 30 years of service.

He is survived by four children, Thomas (Evelyn) Stewart, Holly (Todd) Johnson, Beverly Pence, and Robert Barker; six grandchildren; a host of great grandchildren; a special friend, Beth Brewer; and numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Rhonda Turco; one grandson; and three brothers, Earl, Bonnell, and David Stewart.

Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Brown Dawson Flick Funeral Home, 1350 Millville Ave. in Hamilton. Burial will follow at Butler County Memorial Park.

Visitation is 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Condolences can be made at www.browndawsonflick.com

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