Wilmoth Charles McArthur

Wilmoth Charles McArthur, 101, died peacefully at his home in Athens, Georgia, January 26, 2019. Born June 22, 1917, in Childress County, Texas, he was the son of the late Charles Arthur and Minnie Crozier McArthur of Lubbock County, Texas.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 70 years, Helen Elizabeth Long McArthur, and his brother, Allen McArthur.  He is survived by his sister, Frances McArthur Gilmore of Dallas, Texas; his five children, Malcolm McArthur (Sharen) of Athens, Jim McArthur of Anaheim, California, Sarah McArthur Henry (Mike) of Cashiers, North Carolina, Alan McArthur of Athens, and Edward McArthur (Ivy) of New York, New York; his five grandchildren, Jenny McArthur Skelton, Taylor Henry (Shaina), Jordan Henry Byrd (Grayson), Emily McArthur, and Ford McArthur; his six great-grandchildren, Faye, Micah, Henry, Josiah, Emma Harper, and Otis Arthur; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Following graduation from Roosevelt High School in Lubbock County, Texas, Dr. McArthur entered Texas Tech, where he received a B.S. degree in Agriculture in 1941.  He was employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a year before enlisting in the U.S. Naval Air Corps for duty in World War II.  Part of his pre-flight training was at the University of Georgia. Following completion of pilot training, he served as a flight instructor until the end of the war.

In 1947, he received a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M and was employed in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M, with a leadership role in research dealing with the economics of irrigation in the Texas High Plains region.

In 1955, he received a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from North Carolina State University. He then joined the southeast regional research staff in the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the University of Georgia, where he remained until his retirement in 1984.  He initially worked with research scientists on a variety of studies dealing with the economics of agriculture in Georgia and other southern states.  The scope of his research increased over time to include leadership roles for a variety of projects dealing with major crops in Southern Agriculture. He also authored many publications based on his research projects.

Dr. McArthur was a member of several professional and honorary societies, including the American and Southern Agricultural Economics Associations and the American and Georgia Societies of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. In addition, he was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi and Gamma Sigma Delta at the University of Georgia.

Dr. McArthur was an active member of First Baptist Church of Athens, serving on many committees over the years.  He was also a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club of Athens and a founding member of Clarke-Oconee Genealogical Society. He served the Athens community as a member of the board of directors of Athens Little League, as well as its treasurer. He was also chairman of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee to the Clarke County Board of Education.  After his retirement, he became an avid genealogist, researching his family’s ancestry and that of his wife.

We would like to thank the wonderful caregivers who took such good care of "Mr. Mac":  Ruby Sewell, Glenda Johnson, Willie Harris, Phyllis Sadler, and Michelle Tate.  We would also like to thank Kindred Hospice for all their care and support, especially his nurse, Coty Armistead.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2, at 2 p.m., at First Baptist Church of Athens, Dr. Paul Baxley officiating. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church of Athens Foundation, Inc., 355 Pulaski Street, Athens, GA  30601 or Kiwanis Club of Athens Foundation, P.O. Box 6492, Athens, GA 30604.

Lord & Stephens Funeral Home West  is in charge of arrangements.