The Life of ARTHUR LAVURN GREEN
Arthur Lavurn Green passed away Monday, October 4, 2010 at Sunnyview Care Center in Ankeny, Iowa at the age of 90. Arthur was born in Des Moines in 1920 and was the son of Lydia May Green (later Wilcox). The family moved to Big Falls, MN for a brief period and returned to Des Moines when Art was still a young man.
In 1942, he married his sweetheart, Effie “Betty” Dawson of Des Moines. He joined the US Navy and served on the USS Vestal as a welder and ship repairman during WWII in the Pacific theater. Upon his return, he and Betty started a family and he began a career in Des Moines as an automotive body and fender repairman. He worked for several local businesses, owned his own shop, Christian Auto Body, for a few years, and eventually retired from Betts Cadillac in 1982.
In the late 1980’s, Art and Betty purchased a one-room schoolhouse in rural Missouri, which they renovated into a home. They lived there until 2008, when they returned to Des Moines.
Over the years, Art and Betty were active members of Capital City Baptist Church in Des Moines, and also in the Omaha Baptist Church near Livonia, MO. Art will be remembered as a kind and gentle man, sociable, witty, and always in good spirits, hard working and eager to help his friends, family, the church, and his community.
Arthur was preceded in death by his mother, Lydia Wilcox; and his beloved wife of 68 years, Betty, who died in August 2010. He is survived by his four children: Steven (Janet) Green of Des Moines; Gloria (George) Aswegan of Pleasant Hill; Audrey (Michael) Mitchell of New Virginia; and Susan (Jack) Rethmeier of Des Moines; 8 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren. He will be lovingly remembered by many friends, nieces, and nephews.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, October 7, 2010, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines. Services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 8, 2010, at the funeral home, with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.
