Marshall Lee Lowe, former managing editor of the Los Angeles Sentinel and L.A. Watts Times, passed away in Inglewood on April 15 at the age of 76.
Highly regarded for his journalism skills, Lowe wrote news stories, feature articles and opinion pieces for the U.S. Air Force, L.A. Sentinel, L.A. Department of Public Works and Los Angeles World Airports.
A long-time resident of the Los Angeles area, Lowe was born in Hope, Arkansas on March 20, 1940 to Marvin and Ruth (Randall) Lowe. His family later relocated to San Pedro where he delivered the San Pedro News Pilot to local residents.
“Marshall loved his early morning paper route and when he finished, he would come home to care for the pigeons in the backyard coop before heading off to school,” shared his wife, Deborah.
An active and busy youngster, Lowe excelled in academics, athletics and music. He ran cross-country track, played the trumpet, and was vice president of the Quill and Scroll, a national honor society for students, at San Pedro High School. Lowe also discovered his talent for writing in high school after enrolling in a journalism class. After graduation, he continued to hone his craft through courses at Harbor Junior College.
Lowe developed his professional writing experience in the U.S. Air Force as the news editor for the Bolling Air Force Base paper. Also during his 10-year military career, he served as an Air Force Combat News correspondent during the Vietnam War.
“A highlight of Marshall’s writing career is when he became news editor and then managing editor of the Los Angeles Sentinel,” recalled Deborah. “Marshall interviewed many news personalities and celebrities, including Chubby Checker, Fats Domino, and Harry Belafonte, whom he especially admired.” She added that she met Lowe on a blind date when he was at the Sentinel. They later married and enjoyed 18 years together before his death.
The latter stage of Lowe’s career was spent as a public information officer at the L.A. Department of Public Works and as a principal public relations representative at Los Angeles International Airport. He retired from city service in February 2016. Upon learning of Lowe’s death, the LAX Airport Police lowered its headquarters’ flag to half-staff in his honor.
Lowe was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Marvin Jr., Clarence, Hosea, and Cecil; and sisters, Clareen and Minnie. Cherishing his memory are his wife, Deborah; children, Marshall Jr., Stacey, Patricia, Michael, and Jason; stepsons, Robert and Jeffery; his children’s mother, Patricia Manley; siblings, Janie, Lillie, Ralph (Alberta), and Pat (Rosie); and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.
His celebration of life service was held April 30 at Glory Christian Fellowship International in Carson.