Lowry K. Hudgins, of Mathews, Va., a lifelong commercial fisherman, was born Nov. 22, 1937, and departed on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, to be with his Heavenly Father.

He graduated from Mathews High School in 1955 and began his fishing career in Lewes, Del., the next day.

In 1957, he married his childhood sweetheart, Glenna Crewe. That lifelong marriage produced four children, Melanie/Dale South, Janet/Freddie Dehoux, Lowry K. Jr./Lori and Sara/Kevin Hogge. It also produced seven grandchildren, Dawn, Josh, Laura, Jonathan, Lindsay, Rachel, and Daniel, and four great-grandchildren, Greyson, Jackson, Parker, and Tristan.

Lowry was a member of Salem United Methodist Church where he worshipped all his life. He served as Financial Secretary, Trustee, Head Usher and wherever he was needed. He was a member of the Masonic Order, Oriental #20.

His career was varied: he was Captain of the Menhaden Fish Steamer “John Lawrence” at age 23. He oystered in the winter. He was crewman on the oil tanker “Nancy Ann.” He owned and worked deck boats, the “Automatic” and the “Delvin K,” and the Chesapeake deadrise “Carolyn K.” The Delvin K was his joy and he and that boat were profitable trawling in the ocean, working out of Chincoteague and dredging crabs in the bay. He owned and operated (with the help of his lifelong partner, Glenna) the seafood business “Hudgins Seafood” on Davis Creek.

He was a successful, respected, and knowledgeable fisherman. To his children, he was a wonderful father; to his grandchildren and many others he was “Pa Pa,” a loving and generous man.

Lowry’s visitation was held Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, from 6-8 p.m. at Salem United Methodist Church, 1099 Salem Church Road, Diggs, Va.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, at 1 p.m., also at Salem United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salem UM Church Building Fund. Donations can be mailed to Kevin Hogge, Box 1206, Mathews, Va. 23109. 

Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Mathews, is in charge of arrangements.