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-veter
ans-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: 03/10/2024
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