William C. Arthur, Jr.

PETERBOROUGH -- William C. Arthur, Jr., 95, passed away February 25, 2017 at the RiverMead Retirement Community.

Bill was born December 18, 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a son of William C. Arthur and Sara M. Warrick. He attended Culver Military Academy for five years where he rowed on the crew. He graduated as a 1st Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. In 1941, half a year into his sophomore year at Cornell University, war was declared against Japan (Pearl Harbor). In 1943 he was shipped overseas (WWII) and became senior aide to General Robert W. Hasbrouk, Commander of the 7th Armored Division. As an Army Captain he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Bronze Star. He returned home in 1945.

Bill married Ann Bailey Draper of Canton, Massachusetts on July 7, 1946. With Ann, he returned to Cornell to graduate in 1948 as an Administrative Mechanical Engineer. They lived in Worcester, Massachusetts for 32 years where Bill worked for the Norton Company for eight years, and then as President of his own wire brush company, Anderson Corp.

Bill became involved in many community affairs: Chairman of the Board at Memorial Hospital, Chairman of United Way, Director of Mechanics Bank, on the Board of Friendly House, Boys Trade School, the Associated Industries of MA, and President of the American Brush Association.

Meantime he became interested in boating, bought a Hatteras, and spent his vacations taking his family from Falmouth, Massachusetts to Maine.

Upon retirement in 1980 he and Ann built a home on family property in Jaffrey. They joined The First Church where he was Moderator and Chair of the Finance Committee. He was a fundraiser for the Jaffrey ambulance crew, member of the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce, helped establish the WWII memorial at Humiston Field and was named Citizen of the Year.

Bill is survived by his wife of 71 years, Ann of Peterborough, three daughters: Karen Rickley of Cumberland Maine, Sara Arthur of Tucson Arizona, Janet Arthur of Newington Connecticut, and son Scot Arthur and his wife Susanna of Groton Massachusetts. Five Grandchildren: Samuel Rickley, Ann (Rickley) Ritter, husband, Joseph, and great granddaughter Vera; Christian, Nicholas and William Arthur. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. James H. Arthur and his second wife, Mary, of Centennial, Colorado; two nieces, Mary Arthur-Paratley of Lexington, Kentucky, Liz Arthur of Denver, Colorado; two nephews, Dr. Wallace Arthur of Denver Colorado, and Dr. Jake Arthur of Centennial, Colorado.

A memorial service will be held at The First Church in Jaffrey on April 22, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. followed by a reception at RiverMead in Peterborough.

The family wishes to thank the professional and wonderful caring staff, nurses and aides for the care Bill received at RiverMead.

Remembrances may be made to the Monadnock Community Hospital, 452 Old Street Rd, Peterborough, NH 03458.