Arthur E. Raqué, 83

ROANOKE, VA - Arthur E. Raqué, passed away Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. He was 83. He was born Oct. 12, 1925 in Hoboken, N.J., to Arthur E. Raqué Sr. and Blanche Van Blaricum Raqué. He served as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the destroyer escort the Myles C. Fox in the South Pacific. He received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1949, and his Masters two years later in Industrial Management, all the while teaching as he did throughout his life. Art worked for General Electric in Bloomfield N.J. from 1951-1957, transferred to the Salem Plant until 1971, where he was manager of Machine Operations and eventually Manager of Manufacturing. After working with Frantz Flying Service at the Roanoke Airport, he was hired by Tread Corporation, a small manufacturing company, until his retirement, as Vice President in 1989. After retiring he liked to travel with his wife, especially with the Joy Group at Cave Spring United Methodist Church. He worked many years with Habitat for Humanity, Volunteered at the Science Museum of Western Virginia, and the Roanoke County Library on 419. He became quite the adventurer in his later years with heli-hiking in British Columbia and white water rafting on the Snake River in Colorado. He was an avid tennis player, reader and square dancer; his hobbies were gardening and lawn care. His love of cultivating blueberries, raspberries, roses and azaleas were well known and appreciated. He loved woodworking and built a Lindale Cedar Home at Smith Mountain Lake in 1968, where his family and friends enjoyed many wonderful summers. Twenty years ago he finished an addition to his home in Roanoke County, complete with cedar paneling and skylights. He continued to make furniture, plant stands, and even a hat rack for his wife just a few months before his death. His home is a beautiful tribute to him. He leaves his faithful nine year old female Golden Retriever, Lady, whom he loved to walk with his riding lawnmower; it was the talk of the neighborhood. On Sept. 14, 1947 he married Hannah Zinser, his childhood sweetheart. They just celebrated their 61st Anniversary. Their daughter, Marsha Wilson, her husband John and grandson, John-Arthur, from Smyrna, survive him. He is also survived by his brother, Vernon Raque' and his wife Anne, of Barboursville Va.; his sister, Ann "Pug" Tanona, of Natick Mass.; and loving niece and nephews, Sally, Tom, Steven, their spouses and children. A memorial service was 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 at Cave Spring United Methodist Church in Roanoke. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Memorial Fund at Cave Spring United Methodist Church; or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Oakey's South Chapel and Crematory.