THOMAS MARVIN THROCKMORTON (Age 80)
Marvin Throckmorton, a wonderful father and husband, passed in peace at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, MD on June 7, 2019.
Marvin was a resident of the Bethesda Chevy Chase, MD area for more than 45 years.
He was born in Clover, Virginia, the eldest child of Tommy and Kate Throckmorton and was raised by his grandmother, Susie Jane Nichols, for whom he had tremendous affection. He had a rich ancestry of farming in Halifax County, Virginia and spent his childhood summers working in the tobacco fields.
He graduated from Halifax County High School where he was a state champion miler and met his best friends in life: David Wilborn, Jimmy Patterson and Henry McLaughlin. He would attend East Carolina University where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, where he was initiated as Eta Beta number 37.
He began his career in sales and marketing in the 1960s as a representative selling Encyclopedia Britannica. His prowess in the “book business” would bring him to Washington, DC where he would meet his wife of 50 years, Judy, and settle in Georgetown to start a family.
A natural born salesman, he achieved great success at the various companies he worked for over the course of his career. He was particularly proud to have been named the Richards Corporation’s “Man of the Year” in 1969. He retired from the collections industry in 2004 where we worked for more than a decade with his long-time mentor and friend, Haskell Smith.
Marvin taught his kids to sing “Hail to the Redskins” as soon as they could talk and held Redskins’ season tickets for 40 years. Football Sundays at the Throckmorton household were traditionally filled with the “Sounds of Sinatra” on WMAL, a fire in the hearth and the commentary on the televised broadcast of the game yielding to the local AM radio team of Frank, Sonny and Sam.
Other passions included Maryland basketball, playing the harmonica, sweet tea, sitting outside and chatting, telling a great story or joke, trivia and “Name that Tune”, grilling his “world famous” hamburgers, smoking cigars with the guys at Bethesda Tobacco (now W. Curtis Draper Tobacco), and the Washington Post crossword puzzle. He was a staunch Democrat, an avid consumer of news and enjoyed a great political speech. He loved music. Frank Sinatra was the king of his turntable, but his taste varied widely and included traditional country, musicals, R&B, pop, and regardless of the genre, he was a sucker for a love song.
His greatest love was his family; and he never missed an opportunity to express his pride and admiration or to say “I love you.”
Survivors include his wife Judy of Chevy Chase, MD, daughter Lisa Throckmorton of Vienna, VA, his son Jason Throckmorton (Kerry) of San Rafael, CA and three grandchildren that were his pride and joy: Jonah, Miles and Quinn Throckmorton. Other survivors include his cherished siblings James “Doug” (Elaine) of South Boston, VA, Joan Poole of Virgilina, VA, Bill (Betty) of South Boston, VA, Faye Wilkinson (Ray) of South Boston, VA, Barbara Watkins of South Boston, VA , Nancy Moser of Danville, VA and Rhonda Gainey (Jimmy) of Rome, GA and in-laws whom he adored: Michael Davis (Wendy) of Seaford, NY, Peter Davis (Lynn Gonder) of North Beach, MD, Mary Davis (Mark Clausen) of Chevy Chase, MD, Aimee Brennan (Tony) and Anne Stafford (Tommy), both of West Palm Beach, FL. He was a dear cousin to many and beloved uncle and great uncle to dozens of nieces and nephews and their spouses and children. He is preceded in death by his parents, James Thomas Throckmorton and Katherine Joan Angle and his hero and cousin Jack Neal, all of South Boston, VA.
His family and friends will miss Marvin’s spirit, humor, and love of song.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Suburban Hospital Nursing Excellence Fund. https://donate.suburbanhospital.org/nursing.