Marjorie H. Dow

Exeter – Marjorie Holmes Dow, 89 of Riverwoods Retirement Community, passed away Monday, November 20, 2017. She had been in Exeter 4 years and had lived 60 years at Tuftonboro Corner. Marjorie, (Midge) was born August 19,1928 in Wakefield, Mass the eldest child of Myron L. Holmes and Lillian Irene (Moore). She grew up in Wakefield and graduated from the University of New Hampshire, class of 1950.

Marjorie knew she wanted to live in the shadows of Mt. Shaw the first time she visited Tuftonboro Corner. She married her “chauffer” from that first visit, Albert H. Dow, Jr. in October, 1951.

Marjorie and Al had three children, Susan, Albert III and Caryl. She is predeceased by her husband of 54 years Albert (Sandy), her son Albert III, a grandson, Justin David Chabot and her brother William S. Holmes of Reading, Mass. After the death of her son she became instrumental in the establishment of the Granite Man Triathalon and the Albert H. Dow, III Memorial Scholarship at Kingswood Regional High School.

Marjorie was a teacher of Business at Quimby High School in Sandwich, NH before she joined her mother-in-law Bessie Pearson Dow and Sandy in running the family antiques business, Dow’s Corner Shop. The business operated at Tuftonboro Corner for 57 years, from 1948 to 2005. During her years in the business she specialized in china and glass items becoming President of the National Glass Club, Boston, Mass. She loved and collected Chinese and Japanese porcelain and antique paperweights.

When Albert became a pilot at age 60, her girls insisted she learn to land the plane in case of an emergency.  She enjoyed flying so much, however, that she became a licensed pilot as well and they flew their plane with great joy sharing rides with family and friends.  Marjorie and Albert loved to travel and enjoyed many trips across North America and Europe including trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with three generations and Disney World with grandchildren.

Marjorie is survived by her daughters Susan Dow Johnson and her husband Charles of Exeter, and Caryl H. Dow of Stratham, formerly of Hampton. There remain 5 grandchildren: Amy E. Brown of Brentwood, Andrea L. Kumpf of Newmarket, Jacob A. Chabot of Dunbarton, Peter C. Johnson of Burlington, N.C. and Thomas (TJ) Welch of Hampton.  She was greatly loved by 8 great-grand-children: Carter B. and Nathaniel C. Brown, Elizabeth C. and Caroline E. Kumpf, Jasmin J. and Hailey M. Chabot, Everette A. and Wright M. Johnson who all consider the pool at Riverwoods to be “Gigi’s pool”.

A memorial service is planned for 11am on Friday, December 1 at the Riverwoods Campus in Exeter. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Albert H. Dow III Scholarship, 37 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301 or Winnacunnett Dollars for Scholars – Justin D. Chabot Memorial Scholarship, PO Box 1593, No. Hampton, NH 03862-1593

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