Howard Lee Arthur

Published 1:10 am Sunday, March 2, 2014

Mr. Howard Lee Arthur, 76, of Carrollton, Ga., died Feb. 28, 2014.

Mr. Arthur was born in Johnson City, Tenn., on Sept. 6, 1937, the son of the late Harry Arthur and Lelia Shipley Arthur.

He graduated from The University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Science in architecture and began his passion and life-long career. He was a principal in Boyd & Arthur Architects and later founded the firm Howard Arthur Architects. He spent most of his career in the Tennessee area before moving to Carrollton in 1986. 

Highlights of his architectural career include:

•Johnson City Power Board.

•ETSU Library.

•Mountain View Elementary School.

•Northeast State Library.

•Northeast State Humanities Building.

Howard (Mr. Arthur) was a loved and renowned storyteller and karaoke singer who once had a handicap of 6 in golf. He was a man of his word and inspired laughter and love wherever he went. He and his wife Karen did a lot of “cool stuff.” They were avid travelers, and Howard was on a first name basis with several cruise ship blackjack dealers.

Mr. Arthur was a member of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church.

Survivors include his wife, Karen Smith Arthur; children and their spouses, Jason and Leah Arthur of Erwin, Tenn., Lelia Arthur Huff and Brad Huff of Greeneville, Tenn., Gregory and Suzanne Smith of Carrollton, Ga., Eric and Laura Smith of Bowling Green, Wendy Smith of Knoxville, Tenn., and Dr. Philip and Cindy Smith of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and grandchildren Gabriel Smith, Morgan Smith, Karen Smith, Erica Smith and Madison Smith. Howard was preceded in death by his parents.

The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Almon Funeral Home in Carrollton, Ga., and Friday evening at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home in Greeneville, Tenn.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Carrollton, Ga., with the Very Rev. Hazel S. Glover and the Rev. Robert Fowler officiating. Inurnment will be Saturday in Greene Lawn Memory Gardens in Greeneville, Tenn.

Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Springfield, Billy Hickerson, Dr. Pete Renfrow, Jeremy Ross, Morris Turpin, David Wright and Joe Hickerson.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the St. Margaret’s Outreach Program, 602 Newnan St., Carrollton, GA 30117 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com.