Marjorie Lowe

Marjorie Lowe, 93, born on March 24, 1933, in Omaha, NE, United States, passed away April 28, 2026. She resided in Duarte, CA at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, CA.

Marjorie was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Lehr H. and Marjorie B. Newhouse, where he was in seminary and later pastor of the Fairview Presbyterian Church. She was followed by sister Lehrene (Renie), and the family’s life revolved around the church and the girls’ musical activities. Early on, her sister condensed the name Marjorie Ann into Jan, and that was her childhood and family nickname. Jan (and Renie) went to Hastings College, in Nebraska, as had their parents. There, she met Kenneth Lowe, a fellow student recently returned from the Korean War. She earned a degree in music education and then spent a year teaching at the Tucson Indian Training School (run by the Presbyterian Church).

Marjorie and Ken married in 1956, and moved to Port Huron, Michigan, where daughter Evelyn was born, and then to Embudo, New Mexico, where Elizabeth was born, and later to Buena Park, California, where Kevin was born. In 1967, they moved to La Canada, California, where Marjorie and Ken lived until 2025, when they moved to Westminster Gardens in Duarte.

Marjorie was proud of her musical performances as a soprano soloist for church and community choirs, and occasionally an opera company, as a young woman. She and Ken were always involved in church choirs, and for many years she directed children’s choirs at La Canada and Hollywood Presbyterian churches. She put on a full-fledged musical production almost every year with these choirs, as well as numerous concerts and church service performances. She taught classroom music, chorus, and instrumental music in the Los Angeles Unified School District, at schools throughout south-central LA. She was heavily involved with the Kodaly Association (teaching and attending workshops and conferences) and the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (an elite choir). Over the years, she influenced countless young people in their musical journeys. She also directed an adult community chorus (the Lively Singers) in the 1970s. She continued singing in the church choir and teaching piano students into her 90s.

With endless energy and a strong work ethic, Marjorie completed her master’s degree in music from Cal State LA in 1982, the same year her son graduated from high school and both daughters got married. She retired from LAUSD to provide day care for her two grandchildren, which she greatly enjoyed; music was a core part of raising them, as well as many visits to Descanso Gardens. Later, she volunteered weekly at Descanso Gardens and delivered food for Meals on Wheels. She loved puttering in her yard, especially enjoying her roses, bougainvillea, nasturtiums, and gardenia.

She stayed very close to her parents and sister until their deaths, as multiple boxes of letters from throughout the years attest. She was a voracious reader up until the end, with weekly trips to the library; she kept voluminous card files of every book she had read.

Marjorie travelled extensively throughout Europe, to South America, Mexico, and many parts of the US, with (variously) Ken, her mother, and/or sister, as well as international choir tours with the Hollywood Presbyterian Church.

In addition to church choirs, Marjorie and Ken were involved in the Seafarers and Voyagers communities, and the Kiwanis organization.

Marjorie is survived by her husband of almost 70 years, Kenneth, and daughters Evy Lowe (Richard) and Beth Corbin (Ray), son Kevin Lowe (Amelia), grandchildren Jack Lowe and Miles Gillian Lowe, step-grandson Tyler Marshall, and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at La Canada Presbyterian Church on May 11, 2026, at 11:00 am. Memorial donations may be made to the music program at La Canada Presbyterian Church in lieu of flowers.    Graveside Service is family only.