Thomas William 'Bill' Marlowe, Sr.

Thomas William "Bill" Marlowe, Sr., age 84, began his journey to heaven, Monday August 13, 2018 at his home surrounded by his loving family and friends. Bill was born, June 27, 1934 in Hendersonville, NC; son of the late Tom and Edith Marlowe.

He graduated from Hendersonville High School in 1952, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music as a trumpet major 1956, UNC Chapel Hill teaching certificate 1957 and Appalachian State University Masters of Arts Degree 1962.

In 1957, he started his teaching at Allen Jay High School with marching band, concert band, stage band "The Blue Notes", choral groups, music appreciation and music theory for 21 years. In 1977 he worked as the Cultural Arts Coordinator for Guilford County and then taught at Western Guilford as Band Director for 9 years. He retired in 1986 from public school teaching. During those years of teaching school he also taught private lessons, serving as Choral Director at Reavis Memorial Baptist Church, Springfield Friends, Green Street Baptist Church and First Baptist Church Jamestown. He started the handbells and orchestra at Green Street Baptist and the handbells at First Baptist Church Jamestown while always working with children's choirs.

Preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert "Bob" Marlowe, brother-in-law Dewane Wolverton and son-in-law Richard "Andy" West.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 62 years, Jane Mace Marlowe; children, Drucilla West of Spartanburg, SC, Doreen Marlowe of Chapel Hill, NC, and Thomas Marlowe, Jr. (Patti) of Jamestown, NC; grandchildren, Leighann Marlowe of Jamestown, NC, Whitney MacDonald (Robert) Moore of Oklahoma, Joshua Marlowe (Nicole) USMC, Ande Joan West of Spartanburg SC, and Elijah Marlowe of Jamestown, NC; three great-grandchildren, Aarianna, Benny and Tony; sister, Judy McKinney (Roy) of Hendersonville, NC; sisters-in-law, Fran Tharpe of Statesville, NC, and Elaine Wolverton of Parkersburg, WV; and multiple nieces, nephews and cousins whom he loved deeply.

Bill was an active member of First Baptist Church Jamestown as a deacon, XYZ group and volunteer with Meals on Wheels. He loved playing trumpet with the "Kings of Swing" a big band group. He was a member of the NCMEA for 30 years and started selling church choir robes for ER Moore now Murphy Robes. Bill and Jane traveled together and made a lot of friends selling choir robes for 31 years.

Bill and Jane also worked together in raising their family, building their home and teaching all ages of students in the public school system, churches and private music lessons. Bill enjoyed teaching, spending time with his family and friends, gardening, attending and watching the UNC Tar Heels play basketball and football and watching the Atlanta Braves. He was able to direct band and choral groups on European trips and take high school band trips to Florida, Georgia and Washington DC.

Bill was always a Music Teacher- He would say "Can't is NOT in your vocabulary" and "always count in your head not your feet."

Special thank you to all the Allen Jay Students and parents for allowing us to be a part of you all these years. To our church family you are our family and we love you all. To the staff of Hospice of the Piedmont we would like to give a special thanks to Jennifer Bunn, Stephanie Hiatt and Regina Sullivan. You all have found your calling in this world and we love you.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 15, 2018, from 6-8pm at Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point. A celebration of Bill's life will be held at Jamestown First Baptist Church on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at 2pm.  Special music will start at 1:30pm before the service. Burial will follow at Floral Garden Cemetery in High Point, NC.

Memorials may be made to Jamestown First Baptist, 306 Guilford Road, Jamestown, NC 27282 or Hospice of the Piedmont, 1803 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262.

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