For the first time in six months, family, friends, and hundreds of supporters found a glimpse of closure. Spartanburg County authorities discovered the remains of Kenneth Chad Lowe, 40, after a construction crew clearing brush in a wooded area off Buck Creek Road came across human bones. Lowe, of Chesnee, had been missing since Jan. 6. His disappearance prompted numerous search efforts from law enforcement, fire departments, and community groups searching for answers.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office and Coroner's Office staff promptly notified the family when they suspected they had found Lowe, Barry and Dixie Edge said, and they said photographs from the scene showing Lowe's pants and tennis shoes were how they were able to identify him.
Preliminary findings do not indicate foul play as the cause of death, said Lt. Tony Ivey, a spokesman for the sheriff's office. The coroner's office will perform an anthropological exam to try to determine an exact cause of death. “Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Lowe and we ask that the community remember them in prayer during this time,” Ivey said.
Barry Edge said the family is looking forward to giving Lowe a proper funeral to help with closure, and are still anxious to hear autopsy results to know exactly how he died. “We know he's with God,” he said. “That's the comforting part.
A break in the case brought hope to the community when authorities found Lowe's 2011 Toyota Corolla abandoned on Husky Drive Jan. 10, less than a mile from where his remains were found Tuesday. The sheriff's office had released daily statements numerous times following the initial missing person report. Deputies sought help in locating him by asking the public to call CrimeStoppers if they knew of his whereabouts.
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A woman who knew of Lowe through a number of search efforts the community held drove by the investigation site Tuesday and suspected it was Lowe's remains authorities had found. “It's strange though because they were all throughout here searching,” resident Barbara Kendrick said of previous search parties. “If it is him, I think it's a good thing for the family and everything. I would want to know, for closure.”
Remembering Chad Lowe
The “roller coaster of emotions” had become common inside the home of Dixie and Barry Edge, Lowe's mother and stepfather, who live in Cowpens. Close family, friends and church pastors had gathered at their home Tuesday evening after being notified of the discovery hours earlier.
Dixie Edge said she had not slept in a week and not an hour had gone by without thinking of her son. “For the last six months, it's been one minute thinking the worst, and the next minute hoping he walks through the door,” said Barry Edge. “Deep down we knew something wasn't right.”
Kelly Lowe, Chad Lowe's wife, said one of the first things their daughter asked her when his remains were found was if it was OK for her to be happy, remarking on the need for closure. “I said, 'Yes it is, because we found him. Yes, he's with Jesus now,” said Kelly Lowe.
It was last Christmas when Lowe's loved ones were reminded of the importance of family. “Chad got up in front of everyone and said, 'It's not about the gifts, but it's about being together as a family.' … If only we had known that just days later we'd never see him again,” Barry Edge said. “And he was so sincere when he said it. … The Lord gave us that memory.”
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Some of the page's 454 members offered condolences to the family and posts such as “Let the healing begin,” and “Praying for the family. I wish it had ended differently, but at least they know,” were remarks common throughout.
Family and Personal Life
Family members had said Lowe had high blood pressure and when not taking his medication it could lead to confusion.Lowe lived in the Carolina Oaks community of Chesnee. Neighbors said he kept mostly to himself, but his parents said that observation was likely due to his long work days and time spent in Cowpens to be with family. “I didn't know him that well.
Lowe's daughter, Grace, turned 14 on Saturday, and several family members said even then they had hoped to see him show up to the birthday party. Grace was everything to Lowe, they said. She fought back tears Tuesday night while hearing stories from family members of how much she meant to him. Asked what she will remember most about her father, Grace said “Just him … and probably us bonding over football or something.” She loved her dad, she added.
Chad White - A Celebration of Life
Professional Life
Lowe worked as an electronics technician for the food safety company Sealed Air in Simpsonville for 23 years. Air Force as an air traffic controller based out of the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., his parents said.
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Chad Lowe is a professional wakeboarder, Wakeboard Divison Manager for our partners at Hoven, and first-time Mo Bro in 2016. One thing I’ve never done is try to take the fun out of wakeboarding for people. I believe it’s really important to see what the rider wants out of their wakeboarding.
“I am truly blessed to still be riding and progressing at 39. I feel that my choice of direction for my career allowed me the ability to stay active and riding as I’ve gotten older. I do feel like it’s my duty to give back to a sport that has given me so much over the years.”
Lowe said: "Short term we would love to see Hoven being worn by wake riders and create some buzz around the industry by providing top of the line polarized sunglasses, and introducing the wake community to our floatable technology. Long term we want to be the first name in optics in wake." He added: "Everyone wears sunglasses in the boat, or at the cable. Wake is the best board sport for optics. Go to any lake and cable park and you’ll see everyone that isn’t riding has sunglasses on. The idea of optic companies pulling out of wake, just as wake is making a push back to the mainstream (network TV, ESPN, X-Games) seems very shortsighted."
He noted: "We are assembling a team as we speak. We won’t be the “sponsor everyone” team. To have a Hoven Team sticker on the board will mean something."
When asked about his legacy, Lowe stated: "I am not sure if there is a way to answer that question. I think that will be up to the wake community. I’ve always wanted to help people achieve their goals, if it’s their first flip, or just getting up on a wakeboard. If I leave and they have a smile on their face then I feel like I did a good job."
Health and Wellness
As a 40 year old athlete it is critical for me to stay in the best shape that I can, and that doesn't mean the "gym in shape" everyone thinks about. This is staying on top of my annual physical, eating clean, making healthy lifestyle choices, and limiting stress in my life.
Eating: As I have gotten older I have seen the direct correlation between age and metabolism. Regeneration: Stress is real killer, and it can be almost always avoided. I make sure to treat my body as well as I can. That means getting massages regularly, and if I can’t get in for a massage, I will use my foam roller or TP therapy kit. I also don’t watch TV in my bedroom and make sure I get 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
I think the best tip that can give to anyone when it comes to staying active in your 30-40s is to realize that your body needs to treated better and maintained more than it did in your 20’s. Don't try to go out and be 20 again.
Near-Fatal Illness
This past winter you caught an illness that literally almost killed you. I had Lemierre’s syndrome, it is very rare - about one in three million. Basically it develops as a complication of a bacterial sore throat infection, which can lead to bacterial clot in the jugular vein. It’s really too long of story for this interview, but I spent two weeks in the hospital and then four at home with a PIC line in my arm and giving myself blood thinning shots twice a day. I lost 20 lbs and all my strength. And my left Jugular vein is gone, there was a lot involved. The biggest thing I learned from that experience is to enjoy life.
My last ride before I got sick was a demo set in AZ; it wasn’t the best ride and I was bummed. I got in the boat and was apologizing for not riding great and feeling kinda lame. While I was in the hospital bed I thought to myself how small and petty I was for being a downer that day, that could have been my last wakeboard ride, and instead of finding the good out of being on the boat with awesome people I was feeling dejected about a mediocre ride. I made a goal that day in my hospital bed to find the good out of every ride, even it’s just one hit out of many.
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