Mary Hand Arthur

Mary Hand Arthur, 95, of Springdale, Ark., passed on and joined Orville Arthur, the love of her life, on July 2, 2016 in Springdale. Mary was born to Soloman David Hand and Sarah Catherine Moody Hand on the family farm in Asher, Ark. on Dec. 4, 1920. She was raised on the farm and graduated from the Huntsville Vocational Technical School Class of 1940. She then moved to Washington, D.C. with her sister, Susie and their mother, Sarah, where she joined the U.S. Army during WWII reaching the rank of Staff Sargent. She also earned a degree in music from the American University in Washington, D.C. Mary and Orville were married in 1948, and following the death of Susie, she moved with her mother and the family to various states in her job with the U.S. Government, eventually returning to Northwest Arkansas in 1967. Mary retired from her job at the VA Hospital in Fayetteville, Ark., after which she went on many trips to auctions near and far with Orville as they collected books and pattern glass, until Orville's passing in 1989. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Orville Arthur; her Mother and Father, Sarah Hand and Solomon Hand; sisters, Annie (Susie) Hand and Nellie Olinger; brother, Melvin Hand; and son-in-law, Douglas Carroll. Mrs. Arthur is survived by one son, David Arthur and wife, Sharon; daughter, Melanie Carroll and friend, Wade; granddaughters: Sarah, Rachel and Kimberly; great-granddaughters: Audrey, Emily and Sandra; great-great-granddaughter, Thea; step-sons, Johnny Arthur and wife, Frankie and Danny Arthur and wife, Pam and their families. Graveside services will be Wednesday at 10 O'Clock a.m. on July 6, 2016 at Friendship Cemetery in Springdale, Ark. under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home, 3926 Willowood Avenue, Springdale, AR 72762 with Rev. Randall Galloway officiating. No visitation is scheduled. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a library of your choice or to Riverglen Tiger Shelter, P.O. Box 14, Mountainburg, Ark. Online condolences may be sent to www.memorialfhspringdale.com.