GERTRUDE WHEELOCK ARTHUR

Passed away on March 3, 2014. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Gertrude Ann Wheelock attended public schools there. She then attended Notre Dame of Maryland in Baltimore and Stuart Hall in Staunton, Virginia. In 1942, she married Lt. Arch Hurt Seewald of Memphis, Tennessee. The marriage ended when Lt. Seewald was killed at Remagen, Germany near the end of WWII. Her second marriage was to Navy Lt. Harry Baker Arthur, Jr. of Albany, Georgia. Capt. Arthur died in 1983. As a military family, they moved many times, living on the east, west and gulf coasts as well as Guam and Hawaii. While living in Honolulu, Mrs. Arthur worked for a time as a social reporter covering the military family news beat for The Honolulu Advertiser. A lifelong love of flowers led to a custom flower arranging business in Arlington, VA. At about the same time, she joined the Flower Guild of the Washington National Cathedral, serving as a group captain and as an instructor. Memberships included the DAR, Colonial Dames of Maryland and United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Arlington, VA. Survivors include three sons, Arch Seewald Arthur (Judy), Harry Baker Arthur III, and George Wheelock Arthur, one sister, several nieces and nephews, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Funeral and burial services will be held at a later date.

Published in The Washington Post on Mar. 9, 2014

On Find A Grave.

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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.

Arch Wood Hurt Seewald, was adopted by his Aunt Sade Wood Stratton. She was his mother's sister. His mother had died when he was two weeks old, and his father felt that he could not take care of the new baby. Prior to this adoption, his name was Arch Wood Hurt. After the death of Andrew Stratton, Sade Wood Stratton married Gilbert Seewald in Memphis, Tennessee, and he adopted Arch as his son. His name was changed to Arch Hurt Seewald.
He married Gertrude Ann Wheelock before he went into training as an Infantry Officer in World War II. They had one son, Arch Hurt Seewald, Jr. He was a participant in the Normandy Invasion in 1944 and was wounded during that time. He was sent to England for six months to recuperate and then returned to the front. Arch, Sr. was killed on 5 March 1944 in Germany. He is listed on the Roll of Honor at the University of Virginia and Culver Military Academy and on the First Infantry Monument in Washington, D. C. His service number was 384998.

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.