Arthur, Ward Perry 1932-1990

ARTHUR, GERARD, RICH, BARTLING, DAVIS, JOHNSTON, HEIDENFELDER, STEMSRUD, DUFFUS, LOWRY, TICE, LASH, ISBELL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/1/2010 at 19:57:50

WARD ARTHUR

Ward Perry Arthur, 58, of Rte. 3, Lebanon, Mo., a native of Searsboro, died of a heart attack Friday, Aug. 31, while on a fishing trip at Pickle Lake, Ontario.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Epperson, pastor of the Grinnell Christian Church, officiating. Organist was Jolene Jones. Pallbearers were Boyd and Rex Arthur; David, Dennis and Ronnie Lowry; and Rahn Savage. Honorary bearers were Max Allen, Don Beaderstadt, Richard Rhoades, Pete Rich and Rex James.

Burial was in Jackson Township Cemetery, Montezuma.

The son of Cecil Hobart and Pansy Gerard Arthur, he was born Feb. 25, 1932, at Searsboro. He attended school in Searsboro, graduating from high school in 1951. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.

Mr. Arthur lived in Omaha, Neb., and Mesa, Ariz., before moving to Lebanon, Mo., in 1986.

He was married to Carol June Rich April 23, 1987, in Lebanon. The couple continued to live in Lebanon where Mr. Arthur worked for the Great Plains Gas Co. and later with the American Legion Post. No. 43.

He was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign War.

Surviving are his wife, Carol; three children, Pam Bartling, Randy Arthur and Mike Arthur, all of Des Moines; three stepchildren, Wayne Davis of Lincoln, Ill., Vickie Johnston of Rogers, Ark., and Nancy Heidenfelder of Belleville, Ill.; one brother, Kenneth of Lebanon; five sisters, Margaret Stemsrud of Montezuma, Eva Duffus and Doris Lowry, both of Grinnell, Shirley Tice of Lamoni and Betty Lash of Chevy Chase, Md.; three grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Aileen Isbell; and two brothers, Robert and Keith Arthur.