He was a career Naval Officer serving in many locations throughout the world. When he retired from the Navy after attaining the rank of Captain, he was the head of Adult Education for the Arlington County Schools. He adopted Arch after he married Gertrude.

Gertrude (Bamy) was first the wife of an Army Officer, Arch Hurt Seewald, during World War II. They met while they were both in school in Virginia. They married shortly thereafter. After his death in Germany, March 5, 1945, she remained in Birmingham with her parents, but spent a great deal of her time in Memphis, TN, with the Seewald family. She married the second time to Harry B. Arthur, Jr., a career Naval Officer. They had two more sons. Bamy is very artistic and multi-talented. Her favorite skill is that of Flower Arranging. She teaches flower arranging across the country, and is on the Altar Guild at the National Cathedral in Washington, D. C. where she arranges flowers with other guild members.