Arthur I. Person December 23, 1915 – October 12, 2009.
Arthur I. Person, 93, of State College, Pennsylvania, and formerly of East Main Street, Wilmington, Vermont, passed away on Monday, October 12, 2009 at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College Pennsylvania.
He was born December 23, 1915 in Gloversville, New York, a son of the late August A. Person and Hanna (Hansen) Person, immigrants of Sweden and Norway respectively.
At the age of 9, his mother died and he and his brothers had to do more around the house. For him, this meant doing most of the cooking. With seven boys in the house, there were many colorful stories to tell.
He was married to Emma Lee (Murray) Person, his wife of 55 years, who survives him. He was preceded in death by five brothers, Morris, Harold, Hans, Irving and Carl, and a sister, Ruth, who died at birth. One brother, Ernest, survives him at age 99. He is also survived by three daughters, Carol, Kathryn and Janet, and two sons, Arthur and Charles, eight grandchildren (Marcie, David, Amy, Heather, Brandon, Brooke, Carissa and Benjamin) and four great-grandchildren (Regjii, Yvonne, John and Mary-Virginia).
He attended school in Gloversville, NY through grade 12 and graduated from Ryan School of Aeronautics in San Diego, California. He worked for Brewster Aviation, and then Republic Aviation, Long Island, New York for 25 years where he was part of a team that built the first P-47 Thunderbolts that helped win World War II. He enjoyed flying, skiing, picnics, hunting and other outdoor activities when younger, and picnics, gardening and traveling in his older years. He was an avid reader and liked to keep up on current issues as well as matters of health. He had a quiet personality yet was strong in defense of the "little guy", and was not averse to carrying on lengthy conversations with individuals. He was very kind and always thought about his family before himself. Living through the Great Depression, he knew how to save and not spend.
Friends will be received on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the Covey & Allen Funeral Home (sheafuneralhomes.com) in Wilmington, Vermont from 6-8 PM. Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 1 PM at the Covey & Allen Funeral Home. Burial will be held in Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington, Vermont.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Deerfield Valley Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 854, 34 Rt. 100 South, Wilmington Vermont 05363; Wilmington Fire Department, 18 Beaver St., P.O. Box 217, Wilmington Vermont 05363; or Meals on Wheels, 205 South Garner Street, State College, Pennsylvania 16801.
Sincere thanks are given to the many doctors and nurses at Mount Nittany Medical Center who through their expert care and empathy gave his family a few extra and precious days with our loving husband and father. His gentle and kind spirit will always be remembered and missed.