Marlowe Goldsby

Marlowe was raised in his beloved Seattle, an only child, by his mother Libby Shapro Goldsby and father Thornton Goldsby, III. His childhood was a very colorful and extraordinary one. After school he would take a streetcar to the Arctic Club (his father was one of the founders) as well as the Rainier Club, of which Marlowe later became a member. At the age of 13, he had the largest Bar Mitzvah ever held at the Seattle Temple. His mother was a pillar of the congregation, helping Jewish immigrants to acclimate to American life. His dear father, who always called Marlowe “Chappy,” died in Seattle of pneumonia.
At the age of 14, Marlowe contracted pneumonia as well. Libby brought him to southern
California for health reasons. She then started the first Reform Temple in Glendale, CA, where Marlowe taught Sunday School for many years. He returned to the University of Washington for college, where he was President of his fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau. He was influential in many instances in bringing young men in as students at the University. One of these was Jamshid Amouzegar, who later became the 71st Prime Minister of Iran. Marlowe and Arlyn were invited many times to visit before the coup.
When WWII broke out, he left the University with a friend and enlisted. He was in the
9th Air Force and flew many missions from 1942-1946. Having many dear friends lost, it stayed
with him for years. He was a most loyal friend who on one occasion flew to San Francisco for a friend’s funeral in a most horrific thunderstorm. He was the only participant there.
In his leisure time he flew a seaplane over Lake Washington and the San Juan Islands. He raced cars in Long Beach and was an avid salmon fisherman. Every year, he flew to Alaska
with his buddies. He skied all the mountains in the Pacific Northwest and hunted ducks on his yearly trips to Oregon at his uncle’s farm.
In the early 80’s Marlowe established Burton James, a high end upholstered furniture line, which is still in existence. He was also president of the LA Furniture Guild for two years. He was a true intellectual and an avid reader. He adored American history and was a true anglophile. He always said he knew a little bit about a lot of things.
Over the years, travels included many exotic places and yearly trips to England. He and Arlyn were frequent guests at Longleat House, with friend Alex Weymouth, now Lord Bath. They also visited the Cotswolds where they were the guests of Sir Robin Fender and his wife Myrtle. Sir Robin was the first test pilot in England for the Sopwith Camel airplane. Their dear friend, Judge Marcus Anwyl Davies entertained them many times at his farm in Sussex and at many formal parties at the Reform Club in London. As his guests, they attended the Changing of the Guards in the private stands. Over the years, they flew one of the first trips on the Concord to London, made an extensive trip on the Orient Express, and sailed the Queen Mary from London to New York so they could see the Statue of Liberty at daybreak. New York was a great high, visiting the museums, shopping, theater and walking the streets of Manhattan, where they stayed twice a year at the Metropolitan Club.
Marlowe was generous to a fault, particularly to service people and underdogs. He was a man’s man and women adored him.
He is survived by the love of his life, Arlyn, and his adoring daughter Jann Goldsby and
loving son Wade Goldsby. He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Toby Donner, and her husband Bill, his stepson and wife Steven and Debra Greenwood, and five grandchildren, Jamie, Laura, Aaron, Matthew, and Lauren. .
Donations in Marlowe’s memory may be made to the American Veterans Center, Attn:
Gift of Support, 1100 N. Glebe Road, Suite 910, Arlington, VA 22201.