Stewart, Marie Lowrey Armstrong

August 1, 1920 - April 21, 2021

Marie Lowrey Armstrong Stewart, 100, died Wednesday, April 21, 2021. She was born August 1, 1920, the daughter of the late Samuel Coy and Ina Dillon Lowrey of Oak Ridge. Also preceding her in death were husband, Donald Armstrong; husband, David Carlton Stewart, Sr.; her brother, Sgt. Samuel Coy Lowrey Jr. USMC; her sisters, Bille Lowrey Redman, and Janie Lowrey Clendenin. Surviving are her brother, Thad Moore Lowrey and his wife, Bobbie of New Port Richey Florida; step-daughter, Terry Armstrong Stanley of Port Richey Florida, step-daughter-in-law, Willie Moore Armstrong of Marshall Missouri; and a host of other family members.

Marie graduated from Summerfield High School at 14 and then attended Salem College. Later, she moved to Washington D.C. working as a secretary for an Army official. In 1942 she was recognized as the second woman in the U.S. to sign up for officer training with the W.A.A.C.'s Moving to Alaska, she was employed in the Cold Weather Testing Detachment of the Army Air Corps. With her late husband Don, Marie danced all over the world: teaching square dancing, contra, and folk dancing. She traveled to more than 80 countries and every continent. They introduced the first radio station to New Port Richey Florida in 1963 and developed properties in Grand Cayman and Costa Rica. Marie became fluent in Spanish at age 55. After Don's death she returned to Oak Ridge and continued her community involvement.

A staunch supporter of Oak Ridge Military Academy, she played a significant role in the development of the Academy's museum. Her work there was reported in the Northwest Observer on her 90th birthday. After reading the article, David Stewart contacted her. They resumed a pre-war courtship and were married within a year.

An active member of the Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, Marie volunteered at Urban Ministry and sang in the choir. One of her greatest joys was teaching Spanish to 4 year olds at the Presbyterian pre-school. As a trustee of the Old Union Graveyard, she successfully petitioned the town of Oak Ridge to assume control of the graveyard to ensure its perpetuity. Family history was also a passion. When she returned to Oak Ridge she began to research the genealogy of the Lowrey family; documenting to 1749 including the Revolutionary War.

Marie was a member of the W.O.W. Circle of the Presbyterian Church, P.E.O. and D.A.R. A memorial service will be held at Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church on Tuesday May 4th at 11:00 AM (Covid protocols will be observed). Inurnment to follow at 2:00 PM at Union Grove Baptist Church. Condolences may be mailed to niece Kelly L. Giubileo at 5210 Saddle Brook Rd., Oak Ridge, NC 27310. Memorial donations can be made to Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church at 2614 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge, NC 27310 or Oak Ridge Military Academy at 2317 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge, NC 27310.

Friends and family may view and sign the guestbook at www.Pierce-JeffersonFuneralService.com

Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Services

213 West Mountain Street, Kernersville, NC 27284

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Published by Greensboro News & Record on Apr. 25, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Marie Stewart

Sponsored by Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Services - Kernersville.

1 Entry

Allynn and Bob Riggs

April 28, 2021

We met Marie and Don in 1989 at a week long dance camp in Granby, Colorado. As first time attendees and leaders at this Lloyd Shaw Foundation sponsored event, we were greeted with open arms and encouragement. We learned so much during that week! Marie was gracious and proved to be a wealth of information which has helped us build a strong and varied foundation for our own dance offerings. Marie showed Allynn that she could be on the microphone and stage and could provide a slightly different take on the dances we taught and shared with any audience - nondancer and dancer alike. We have been grateful for the opportunity to get to know and interact with Marie since our introduction at the Rocky Mountain Dance Roundup over thirty years ago.

Allynn learned that Marie was a P.E.O. in the obituary. Allynn joined that women's philanthropic educational organization in 2009. She wishes she had known of Marie's involvement much sooner as there is an even stronger connection between them and it proves that strong women find ways to encourage and support women in similar fashion.

We send our condolences to Thad and the rest of the family and the uncountable friends who have lost a steadfast role model. Marie will be missed but her passion for dance and support of P.E.O. will be long remembered and cherished.

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