James Irvin Marlowe

Jim was born in Southport, North Carolina, September 23, 1932, a ninth-generation native of Brunswick County, a tenth-generation native of North Carolina, and a fourteenth-generation American. He was the son of Henry Irvin Marlowe and Amanda Catherine Johnson, of Southport, and his stepfather Gilbert D. Nedley, of Apalachicola, Florida. He is survived by his wife of 67 years is Marian Taylor Marlowe, originally of Sarasota, Florida. He is also survived by four sons, James, David (Heidi), Robert (Linda), and William (Annie) Marlowe; and five grandchildren, Matthew, Jack, Liam, Kyle and Lily Marlowe. He also is survived by his brother Joseph Nedley of Baltimore, Maryland and his sister Dorothy Fox of Nederland, Texas. He is predeceased by his sister Judy Marlowe of Bridge City, Texas. As well, he is survived by nieces Terri Nelson of Beaumont, Texas, Tracy Jowell of Mauriceville, Texas and Tami Nuñez of Nederland, Texas; and nephews Brennan Nedley, Patrick Nedley and Frank Nedley.

He graduated from Bay County High School in Panama City, Florida and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War aboard a destroyer as a gunfire controlman. He received a bachelor's degree in geology from Florida State University in 1957 and completed his studies for a master's degree there in 1958. He was appointed a Rockefeller Research Fellow at the University of Arizona and in 1961 was awarded a doctorate in geology from that institution. His professional career spanned a period of forty years, during which he was involved in geological exploration in numerous parts of the world.

This included mineral exploration and submarine geological studies in various regions of the east, Pacific and Gulf coasts and Great Lakes of North and South America; the Queen Elizabeth Islands and Arctic Ocean of Canada; the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Red Seas; and the Persian Gulf. While a Research Scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada he initiated a program to explore the geology of the outer continental shelf of eastern Canada. During that program he discovered and obtained samples from the first known strata of Tertiary age in that region, which later became part of an active petroleum province. As a consultant, his projects included the participation in or leadership of five extensive studies of potential sites for nuclear power plants and other critical facilities at coastal locations in various parts of the world. Because of the detailed nature of these studies, geological features were discovered that disqualified the sites from use under the applicable safety rules. Jim considered these "nuke" studies to be the most satisfying period of his career, as they produced new information and understandings of regional geology while at the same time protecting the safety of the public. He later served as a consultant on issues of coastal stability and flooding in the Gulf Coast and New England regions for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He was the author of numerous scientific papers, reports and a book, and was a Senior Fellow of the Geological Society of America.

Jim was very interested in the early history of the Waccamaw and lower Cape Fear regions and for more than sixty years pursued the histories of families of those regions, producing two books and numerous shorter compilations on the results of that work. He enjoyed creative writing and produced numerous short stories. He was an enthusiastic sailor and his children grew up sailing in the Manta, a 36-foot multihull sloop that he built. He was a Scout and later was an adult Scout leader.

Most importantly, he was a warm and decent human being, loved and respected by all who knew him.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in the Northwood Cemetery in Southport. The family will have visitation from 9:30 to 10:00 am prior to the service at Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com.

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.