More detail on this person: Daniel James Lowther, age 66, passed away at his home in Santee, CA
October 25, 2013 due to a sudden heart attack. He was born in Vancouver, WA on Aug. 17, 1947, grew
up in Camas, WA, graduating from Camas High School in 1966. His rock band "Dirty Dan and The
Pirates" & "The Midnight Sons" were very popular with teenagers during the 60's and they performed
at many school dances. He then attended Clark College in Vancouver, WA before being drafted into
the Army in 1968.
Dan entered the Warrant Officer helicopter program (WORWAC 69-7) and qualified for 'The Commandant
List' by graduating first of his 123 member class at Fort Rucker in 1969. Although Dan wanted to
fly medivac, his position in his graduating class provided him the opportunity to fly the world's
first attack helicopter, so he completed the AH-1G Cobra transition training. In 1970-71 he served
with A Troop/7/17th Air Cavalry (Ruthless Riders) as call-sign "Knight-28" in the An Khe and Pleiku
areas of Vietnam. There was none better that could place extremely accurate suppressive fire
beneath the 'break' of his lead. After Vietnam, he was assigned to the 3rd Avn. Co., 6th USA at
Yuma Proving Grounds, AZ., TDY to Hunter-Liggett Military Reservation where he participated in
attack helicopter tactics experimentation.
Dan chose to leave the Army as a CW2 in 1971 and continued his education at Washington State
University graduating in 1974 Cum Laude. He went on to study law at Western School of Law in San
Diego, CA and graduated in 1977. He passed the bar exam for both Arizona and California and after
first practicing law for an established firm decided to start his own law practice in 1980 known
today as Lowther Law Office located in Solana Beach, CA.
Dan loved the Northwest visited as often as he could and reminisce about years gone and looked
forward to each high school class reunion. He never lost his passion for music, reading poetry, and
had hoped to have published a book he was writing before his untimely death.
Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Dorsey and Selma Lowther (Bakken) and his brother John.
He is survived by his son James, grandson Franklin both of Santee, CA; ex-wife Janet of Payson,
Arizona; sisters Rosemary 'Rosie' (Larry) Buhrmester of Washougal, WA and Carolyn (Greg) Briody of
Mt. Shasta, CA; two nephews, three nieces and 2 great-nephews.
A memorial service for Dan will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego December 4,
2013 at 11:00 AM. Donations may be made in memory of Dan to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
at
https://donate.vvmf.org/page/contribute/2013-veterans-day1 .
Dan, you will be missed by those who had the honor to serve with you, those who learned from you,
and those whose life you blessed with your love and caring. And dare I mention you are one hellova
guitar player.
Submitted by Wes Bean, former A/7/17, Knight 24 (69-70), who had the honor of knowing and serving
with my friend, Dan. See you in the next AO, bud.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
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