Obituary of Frederick George Arthur

Frederick George Arthur, 85, of Bossier City, LA passed away peacefully on September 19, 2018 while surrounded by family. 

Fred was born August 17, 1933 to Bessie and Walter Arthur in Everett, MA. He graduated in 1951 from Everett High, and upon graduation entered the United States Air Force where he attended basic training at Sampson AFB, NY. Fred then attended Remote Control Turret Mechanic School and B-36 Gunnery School at Lowry AFB, CO. While in Colorado, working on RB-36s as an instructor/evaluator, Fred met his wife, Shirley, and the two were married on December 19, 1952. Fred and Shirley relocated to Fairchild AFB, WA until November 1956 when Fred was reassigned with the 99th Bomb Wing to Westover, AFB, MA where he served as a B-52 Standardization Evaluator/instructor gunner until June 1961. After that, Fred was transferred to McCoy AFB, FL until June 1967 where he helped reactivate the 306th Bomb Wing. His last two assignments were at Wright Patterson, AFB, OH with the 17th Bomb Wing as a Fire Control Superintendent and at Barksdale AFB, LA with the SAC Combat Evaluation Group, serving as a CMSGT Gunnery Superintendent until his retirement in April 1981.

Fred spent two tours in ARC-LIGHT, with the 306BW as a crew member, and as an augmentee wing gunner with the 99th Bomb Wing. Following retirement, Fred became a private pilot and FAA certified flight instructor at the Shreveport Downtown Airport. In 1986, Fred was one of three founders who organized and chartered the Air Force Gunners Association to promote fellowship and preserve the history and traditions of the Aerial Gunners.

His family and friends will remember Fred as a prideful and patriotic man. He was also a mentor; he loved teaching in the Mason’s organization and in earlier days to students seeking their private pilot license. Fred was a Past Master of Temple Lodge, a member of Hap Arnold Lodge, and the Mason’s Red River Roadrunners.

Fred is preceded in death by granddaughter Lindsey Williams and his parents, Bessie and Walter Arthur.

Fred is survived by his loving wife of 65 years Shirley Arthur of Bossier City, LA; daughter Sharon Williams and husband Mark Williams of Haughton, LA; sister Viola Hinkson of Pensacola, FL; grandson Jared Williams and fiancé Ellen Hill of Columbia, SC and granddaughter Katelyn Williams of Mount Pleasant, SC; niece Terry Hinkson and nephew John Hinkson, both of Pensacola, FL. 

Visitation will be held at Boone Funeral Home, Bossier City, LA on Saturday October 6, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Tom Brown officiating. 

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Garden Court Health and Rehabilitation for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be left in Fred Arthur’s online guestbook at www.boonefh.com