Funeral services for William A. Lowell will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 8, at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church with Pastor Laurie Johnson officiating. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow at a later date.

William Arthur Lowell, 77, died March 1, 2003 at his home in Oak Harbor. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., May 31, 1926, to Arthur and Eleanor Lowell. World War II began and Bill, lying about his age, enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17. Bill was very proud to have fought in the war in Italy. He stayed in the Army until just prior to the Korean conflict.

Bill left the service and attended college in Utica New York, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He then began a lifelong career as a military broker, selling military supplies around the world.

Mr. Lowell was transferred to Japan for nine years. He worked with the U.S. military representing a variety of companies. He returned to New York, leaving military sales and pursued a dream of opening a bookstore in Manhattan. He had the largest paperback book collection in Manhattan. He was married to Edith Ilse Banditt in New York City Jan. 12, 1963.

Bill sold his store and returned to military sales and was sent to Germany and then back to Japan. His sales took him to Thailand, Vietnam and to most of the Orient. While in Japan, he and Edith began traveling through Asia on freighters. They enjoyed the excellent accommodations and the opportunity to visit many beautiful ports of call seldom seen by tourists.

Bill eventually returned to the states and formed his own company, Hash Mark Associates, which he operated from Dallas, Texas. After 11 years, he sold his company and retired. He and Edith looked at many locations, but eventually settled on Oak Harbor as their retirement home. Bill has a longtime member of the Nile Temple of the Shrine in Japan. He was also a member of the Oak Harbor Senior Center.

Bill is survived by his wife Edith at the family home, Oak Harbor. Two sister-in-laws, Lisa Moeller of New York and Erika Gierer of Wil, Switzerland, one nephew Ernest Moeller of Otisville, N.Y. and two grandnieces, Kristin Moeller of Otisville, N.Y. and Janet Fritzen of Bridgewater, N.J., also survive Mr. Lowell.

Memorials may be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oak Harbor, 913 Whidbey Avenue, Oak Harbor, 98277. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.