Jack P. Lythgoe

?Jack P. Lythgoe -- A Life Lived Large

John P. (Jack) Lythgoe, age 92, was born April 4, 1926 in his parents’ home at 22 Sharpless Avenue, Boothwyn, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. His father, Peter B. Lythgoe, owned and operated a grocery store in Boothwyn and was a founder of the Boothwyn Reliance Fire Company. His mother, Florence Lois Lythgoe nee Boushelle, was active in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Boothwyn Reliance Fire Company.

Jack was receiving hospice care, and he passed peacefully the morning of Thursday, August 9, 2018, having suffered two strokes in recent weeks. His closest friend, Alfred Herron, was instrumental as a link between Jack and his children, who all lived at significant distances from his Twin Falls home. At the end, Jack was surrounded by his three sons at his current home in Twin Falls, Idaho, which he designed and helped build around 1975.

From his birth through his childhood to his early adulthood, Jack resided in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Daily Times, local newspaper in Pennsylvania, identified him as the best football player to ever come out of the Chichester School System.

When World War II broke out, Jack dropped out of school in his Junior year to enlist in the Navy Air Force. He saw service in the Atlantic theater aboard the USS Ranger and in the Pacific theater aboard the USS Shamrock Bay with Aviation Branch Composite Squadron #94 (VC-94). He was a turret gunner flying in SBD's (Scout Bomber Douglas aircraft), which are also called the Dauntless Dive Bomber. Jack saw action at Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Saka Shimahis. More is at https://magicvalley.com/jack-lythgoe/image_48780ffe-76cc-11e2-b67f-001a4bcf887a.html . And there is even more at www.webring.org/l/rdring=avihistory;id=1;url=http://webspace.webring.com/people/gu/um_6609/VC94.html .

After leaving the military, Jack worked at American Viscose, Marcus Hook, where as supervisor of a mechanical development department he helped work up a quicker method of making rayon. He played on Viscose sports teams, on the Linwood A. A. football team, and on the Marcus Hook Amvets football and basketball teams. He coached the Boothwyn American Legion football team. He even was quarterback on the professional Wilmington Clippers football team in the state of Delaware. Much more related information is at https://magicvalley.com/news/local/a-life-lived-large/article_a5d95249-9d12-5cd7-b976-4fdb94a6ce52.html .

Jack’s wife Joanne, whom he married in 1945, suffered from asthma that could not be controlled with medication. So Jack chose to move his family to a drier climate.

After moving to Idaho, Jack turned a fun hobby into his profession as a magician, puppeteer and hypnotist, performing professionally under the stage name Shalmar. As Talent Director for National Assemblies, Jack auditioned acts and then traveled throughout the west to book the acts for school assembly programs. He also booked himself to perform.

For a few years in the 1960s, Jack even hosted the kids television show The Merry Milkman, which has been described as being as popular in the northwest as Captain Kangaroo. More related information is at https://muse.jhu.edu/chapter/680715.

Jack appeared as a celebrity guest on several television shows, including Hugh Downs' Concentration, Alan Luden's Password, Joker's Wild, and High Rollers with Alex Trebek.

Jack was an active member of the Magic Valley Magicians club in Twin Falls, which he was instrumental in founding around 2011.

Jack was probably the first member of his family to do any serious genealogy research. He visited Atherton, England, and found several grave markers of his ancestors. He also identified a link between his family and the Scottish clan of Linlithgow. He visited the village of Linlithgow, just west of Edinburgh, on the Firth of Fourth (bay at the mouth of the river Fourth), where there is the remains of the Linlithgow Palace.

In 2002, Jack competed in the Senior Olympics in Boise, Idaho. He garnered medals in Swimming as well as the Track & Field events.

When time permitted, Jack obtained a High School equivalency certificate, and then went on to obtain a college degree and a Doctorate in Psychology.

Jack owned and frequently flew a private plane, and on one world trip he flew an L39 Albatros Czech jet trainer and aMIG-29 jet fighter. Jack wrote an extensive description of this experience (see http://doney.net/lythgoe/index.htm). He said his favorite spot in the world was the island of Bali, in the South Pacific. He conducted scuba diving certification courses, performed as a magician and hypnotist on numerous cruise ship excursions, and even found time to become a Mason in the Oriental 60 Lodge of Boise, Idaho, and achieved the position of Master Mason.

Delaware County newspaper articles with more information on Jack Lythgoe can be found at:
http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20110213/NEWS/302139995 part 1

http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20110220/NEWS/302209994 part 2

   Jack is survived by his three sons John R. Lythgoe (wife Kathy L., nee Parsons) of Fullerton, California, Jay T. Lythgoe (wife Milma, nee Escarllo) of “The Dalles”, Oregon, and Jerry L. Lythgoe of Boise, Idaho, and ten grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his ex-wife, Joanne M. Lythgoe, nee Doney, with whom he maintained contact. Jack's daughter Jan Lynn Logan (husband Robert Scott Logan) predeceased him in 1990, from cancer. Also predeceasing Jack were his three sisters Katharine E. Phillips (husband Charles) of Chester, Pennsylvania, E. Evelyn Peters (husband Johnny) of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania and F. Louise Luzak (husband Nick) of Ogden, Pennsylvania and Jack's brother Harry M. Lythgoe (wife Jacqueline H., nee de Rocquiny du Fayel) of Rockford, Illinois.

   In accordance with Jack's wishes, cremation has been provided by Parkes Magic Valley Funeral Home of Twin Falls, Idaho. A portion of the ashes are to be deposited beside remains of several of his fellow World War II veterans. Condolences and remembrances may be left for the family on the funeral home website at www.MagicValleyFuneralHome.com. Contributions in his honor may be made to the American Legion Post 951, 2638 Ogden Avenue, Ogden, PA 19061 (phone 610-494-7976), or your local American Legion post.