Obituary : Arthur E. Flathers
Published: April 17, 2008
Arthur Edward Flathers of Winyah Lane in Vineyard Haven died on Thursday, April 10, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was 75.
He was the husband of M. Kaye (Slutz) Flathers and his first wife Lavinia "Sunny" Flathers who predeceased him in 1994.
Art was born on March 1, 1933 in Fairhaven, a son of George H. and Eleanor T. (McDevitt) Flathers. He lived in Fairhaven until moving to Vineyard Haven during his high school years and was graduated from Tisbury High School. Art then received his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from MIT in Boston.
Art began his career at General Dynamics in Ft. Worth, Texas and was a pioneer in space exploration. Later he was employed with General Electric in Philadelphia, Penn., for 33 years as a systems analysis manager.
Art was very involved in the Island community, serving on the Rotary Club and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award. A member of the Federated Church in Edgartown, he served on the Island Charter Commission, as a SCORE Counselor and teacher of bridge. He was also a member of the MIT Alumni Association.
He is survived by his wife M. Kaye Flathers of Vineyard Haven; his brother Charles Flathers and his wife Sheila of Vineyard Haven; his step-children, Eric Peabody of Austin, Texas; Shelly Petersen of Sioux City, Iowa; Jeff Davis of Des Moines, Iowa; Tim Davis of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and Heather Kraai of Sibley, Iowa; his nieces and nephews, Richard Flathers, Karen Flathers, Scott Flathers and Kathleen Flathers, six step-grandchildren and many great nieces and nephews.
His funeral service will be held in the Federated Church on S. Summer Street in Edgartown on Saturday, April 19 at 2 pm, officiated by the Rev. Jerry Fritz. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery on State Road in Vineyard Haven at 4:30 pm. Donations may be made in his memory to the Steeple Fund of the Federated Church, P.O. Box 249, Edgartown, MA 02539 or to Women Empowered, P.O. Box 1253, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.
Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.
