Ancestry of Rob Lowe

Visitor Count:

1 Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe

Robert Hepler Lowe was born 17 Mar 1964 in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia, the son of Charles Davis Lowe a lawyer, and his wife Barbara Lynn Hepler, a teacher. His father was evidently then attending law school at the University of Virginia. The family moved by 1968 to Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio which is where Rob's younger brother Chad was born that year. A few years later, his parents divorced in 1970, and about six months later Barbara married on 29 Aug 1970 in Montgomery County, Ohio to William V Dyer who was two or three years younger than herself ("age 28" Aug 1970). On 27 Jul 1973 their child Micah Dyer was born in Dayton. Rob attended Oakwood Junior High School in Dayton.

On 9 Jan 1976 Barbara was granted a dissolution of her second marriage. And that same year, Barbara, Rob, Chad, and perhaps Micah, moved to Point Dume in Malibu, Los Angeles County, California. On 12 Feb 1978 Barbara married for the third and last time to Stephen N Wilson (b 1943) in Los Angeles County. Rob attended Santa Monica High School in Los Angeles County. His first screen appearance was in 1979 when he played Tony Flannagan in eleven episodes of the TV-series "A New Kind of Family". In 1983 he landed his first major role in the movie, "The Outsiders". His mother, as "Barbara H Wilson", born either 13 Jul 1939 or 15 Jul 1939, she lived at 6968 Dume Dr in Malibu, and also probably a bit later at 7064 Fernhill Dr in Malibu in 1984, Did Rob still live with her at age 20 ?

Secondary Sources

"Rob Lowe", Wikipedia

2 Charles Davis "Chuck" Lowe

Charles Davis "Chuck" Lowe was born about 1939 as he graduated from De Pauw University in the same class as his wife Barbara. He was in the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. While in college, he must have met his future wife Barbara Hepler by 1959 as that August she is the houseguest of him and his parents at their Anderson home. They were married in June 1961 in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio. In the announcement of the wedding the four parents are called "Mr and Mrs Robert Monroe Hepler of Sidney" and "Mr and Mrs Robert Edward Lowe of Anderson". Some of the wedding party were Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity brothers of Charles' and some were sorority sisters of Barbara's. They expected to make their summer home in Puerto Rice "where Mr Lowe will be professional tennis player at the Dorado Beach Hotel and Country Club." They were then planning to establish themselves at Charlottsville, VA "where the bridegroom will enter law school at the University of Virginia. Mrs Lowe will be teaching English." Their reception was attended by 275 guests.

They had two children: Rob Lowe and Chad Lowe, both actors. After eight years of marriage, both of them then living in Dayton, she filed for divorce on the grounds of "Gross Neglect and Extreme Cruelty", the decree was granted 19 Feb 1970. On 28 Jul 1973, both then residents of Montgomery county, Charles D Lowe age 33 married Kay L Rasper age 28.

In 1985, Charles was a lawyer, living in Dayton, Ohio. In a Sep 1989 article, Rob Lowe flew into Dayton, to help his father "Dayton lawyer Chuck Lowe celebrate his 50th birthday". In that same article it is stated that he then had three sons: "Rob 25; Chad 21 and Justin 13". That allows me to identify Justin Lowe as the artist in this article. In an article on Rob Lowe in 1995, Charles was a lawyer, living in Dayton, Ohio. When actress Hilary Swank and his son Chad Lowe announced in May 2006 that they were divorcing, he is then mentioned as "an attorney in Dayton, Ohio". He was mentioned living, in an article on Rob Lowe in 2009.

Primary Sources

"Anderson Herald", 20 Aug 1959, page 2
"Anderson Herald", 25 June 1961, page 13, post-nuptial wedding announcement.
"Lima News", 25 June 1961, page 20
Ohio Divorce Index, online at ancestry.com

3 Barbara Lynn Hepler

Barbara Lynn Hepler was born on 13 Jul 1939 in Lima, Ohio (per her obituary, and SSDI entry). She graduated from Sidney High School in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio and then received a B.A. from De Pauw University in Green Castle, Indiana. She was in the Kappa Alpha Thera sorority. While in college, she must have met her future husband Charles Lowe by 1959 as that August she is the houseguest of him and his parents at their Anderson home. She was married in June 1961 in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio to Charles Davis Lowe. In the announcement of her wedding the four parents are called "Mr and Mrs Robert Monroe Hepler of Sidney" and "Mr and Mrs Robert Edward Lowe of Anderson". Some of the wedding party were Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity brothers of Charles' and some were sorority sisters of Barbara's. They expected to make their summer home in Puerto Rico "where Mr Lowe will be professional tennis player at the Dorado Beach Hotel and Country Club." They were then planning to establish themselves at Charlottsville, VA "where the bridegroom will enter law school at the University of Virginia. Mrs Lowe will be teaching English." Their reception was attended by 275 guests. With Charles Davis Lowe, she had two children: Rob Lowe and Chad Lowe, both actors. After eight years of marriage, both of them then living in Dayton, she filed for divorce on the grounds of "Gross Neglect and Extreme Cruelty", the decree was granted 19 Feb 1970. She married secondly 29 Aug 1970 in Montgomery County, Ohio to William V Dyer, with whom she had a son Micah Dyer, actor and producer. The marriage tells us that William was then "age 28", cross-checking the US PRI we find him born 26 Sep 1941 living at 43 W Norman Ave in Dayton. On 6 Jan 1976, while both were residents of Dayton, she was granted a dissolution of this marriage. That same year she, Rob, Chad and perhaps Micah moved to Point Dume, Malibu, California.She married thirdly psychiatrist Stephen N "Steve" Wilson on 12 Feb 1978 in Los Angeles County, California. Stephen was her last husband, Rob states in an interview that his stepfather "has worked with Habitat for Humanity off and on since the late 1970s."The picture right and below is Micah Dyer, age 16, from the Santa Monica High School yearbook (Los Angeles County). As "Barbara H Wilson", born either 13 Jul 1939 or 15 Jul 1939, she lived at 6968 Dume Dr in Malibu, and also probably a bit later at 7064 Fernhill Dr in Malibu in 1984, In 1992 she lived at 21516 Uncompahgre Rd in Montrose, Los Angeles County; in 1996 at 3640 Kiekebush Court in Carmichael, Sacramento County; her last address was apparently 2470 Banner Avenue in Summerland, Santa Barbara County. ("US Public Records Index Volume 1") Cross-referencing these addresses we find that her last husband was that Stephen N Wilson who was born 3 Sep 1943.

In Aug 2002, she petitioned the court in Santa Barbara County, to be able to change her name from Barbara Hepler Wilson to Barbara L Hepler. Barbara died 29 Nov 2003 at Summerland, Santa Barbara County, California of breast cancer "aged 64". Her obituary calling her "Barbara Lynn Hepler" was printed in the "Malibu Times", 31 Dec 2003 and also in the "Santa Barbara News-Press", 30 Dec 2003. Her obituary mentions her three sons: Rob, Chad and Micah, their wives Sheryl, Hilary and Anna; and three grandsons Matthew, Johnowen and Emmit. It directs donations to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Her son Micah Dyer filed the petition to probate her estate in Santa Barbara County.

Primary Sources

"Anderson Herald", 20 Aug 1959, page 2
"Anderson Herald", 25 June 1961, page 13, post-nuptial wedding announcement.
"Lima News", 25 June 1961, page 20
Ohio Divorce Index, online at ancestry.com
Ohio Marriage Index, online at ancestry.com
California Marriage Index, online at ancestry.com
"Malibu Times", 31 Dec 2003, her obituary
Social Security Death Index, online at ancestry.com, "Barbara L Hepler, 13 Jul 1939, 29 Nov 2003, issued by Ohio"

4 Robert Edward Lowe

Robert Edward Lowe was born 13 Dec 1908 in Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana, the son of John Frank Lowe and his wife Flora E Nienabor. The family appears in the 1930 census of Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. He married Maurice Davis sometime before 1939 in which year, their son Charles Davis Lowe was born in Anderson. Robert was living in 1961 in Anderson at the marriage of his son Charles. Robert died 8 Jan 1978 in Anderson. He is buried with his wife Maurine at Anderson Memorial Park with a joint headstone.

5 Maurine Davis

Maurine Davis was born 14 Mar 1909 at Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California, the child of James O Davis and his wife Eleanor Rushen. The family moved to Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana where they are enumerated there in the 1910 US Federal Census, James at 29, and "Nell" at 26, married five years ago. James is listed as a school teacher. They are still there in the 1920 and the 1930 US Federal Census, living at 302 North Broadway. James in 1930 is a bookkeeper for the "Ice, Fuel Co". James' second wife he married 22 Jun 1914 in Hancock County, Indiana as "Claudia Teel". In the 1930 census Claudia states that she was first married at age 28 and is now only 43.

Maurine married Robert Edward Lowe. Robert and Maurine were living in Anderson in 1961 at the marriage of their son Charles. Maurine was living in Anderson in 1985. Maurine was living in Bloomington in 1992 and in 1996. Lived in Fresno, California from 1996-2006 where she died. She is buried next to her husband Robert, back in Anderson at the Memorial Park there.

Primary Sources

1910, 1920, 1930 census of Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana
Indiana Marriage Collection 1800-1941 online at ancestry.com
"Anderson Daily Bulletin", 7 Feb 1985 "Rob Lowe, grandson of Maurine Lowe of Anderson is one of the stars of Columbia Pictures' "St Elmo's Fire"... Lowe's brother Chad also is an actor... Dayton Ohio attorney Charles 'Chuck' Lowe is the father of the two perfomers"
Social Security Death Index, "Maurine D Lowe, born 14 Mar 1909, issued by Indiana (1960-1), died 2 Feb 2006, last residence Fresno, CA"
"The Herald Bulletin", Anderson, Indiana, 29 Jul 2006 Maurine D Lowe... born 14 Mar 1909 in Sebastopol, CA. Family moved to Greenfield, Indiana. She graduated from Indiana University, married Robert E Lowe, moved to Anderson. Last ten years in Fresno, where she died. Husband of 43 years. Children: Pam Burt of Fresno; Chuck Lowe of Dayton; grandsons: Rob, Chad, Justin Lowe, Gregory and Brian Burt.
"Maurine Lowe", Find-a-Grave

6 Robert Monroe Hepler

Living in 1957 in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio but then called a "former resident of Lima". Living in 1961 in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio; at the marriage of his daughter.

7 Margaret Olive "Peg" Grouver

8 John Frank Lowe

9 Flora E Nienabor

10 James O Davis

Primary Sources

Indiana Marriage Collection 1800-1941, online at ancestry.com : "James O Davis to Nellie H Rushen 15 Aug 1905 Hancock County"
Index to Supplemental Marriage Transcript : Nellie Rushen, age 22 at marriage 15 Aug 1905
1910 US Federal Census, Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana, 302 Broadway : "James O Davis, Head, MW, 29, married first time, 5 years ago, IN/IN/IN, School Teacher; Nell R, wife, FW, 26, married first time, 5 years ago, mother of 1, 1 living, IL/IL/IN; Maurine, daughter, FW, 11/12, CA/IN/IL
Indiana Marriage Collection 1800-1941, online at ancestry.com : "James O Davis to Claudia Teel 24 Jun 1914 Hancock County"

11 Eleanor H "Nellie" Rushen

12 Oran "Bert" Helper

13 Bessie Mae East

14 Henry Ford "Harry" Grouver

15 Olive Marie Owen

18 Henry Nienabor

19 Willamina "Minnie"

20 Newton M Davis

22 Manford Rushen

23 Amada

24 Lewis Hepler

26 Monroe M East

27 Priscilla Alice Crider

28 John Grouver

29 Jane Ella "Jennie" Lilley

30 Griffith C Owen

31 Melissa McFarlin