Memorial services will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Covenant Presbyterian Church with Todd Dole officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home.
On June 25, 1921, Arthur Richard Samiran was born to David and Sonja Samiran in Dayton, Ohio where David was in the Army Air Corp. Arthur attended high school at the Tennessee Military Institute, after which he also joined the Army Air Corp and served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. After the war, the Air Corp became the US Air Force, where he continued in his service to his country. His first post-war assignment was at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, where he met his first wife, Betty Jean Gunter.
Arthur transferred to Nellis AFB in Nevada where their daughter, Ricki, was born. He was reassigned to Lowry AFB as an instructor at the newly formed Air Force Academy, and did so before the structures on the property were even built. Arthur and Betty became active in Park Hill’s Orthodox Presbyterian Church, where over his years in Denver he became a Deacon and finally an Elder there.
Arthur was assigned to Chanute AFB in Illinois, and then once again reassigned to Lowry AFB to serve again as an instructor at their newly formed and built Air Force Academy. While still in Denver, Arthur and Betty had their second daughter, Charlotte, and their son, David.
When the Air Force Academy opened in it’s Colorado Springs location, Arthur was transferred to continue as one of the Academy’s first Electronics Instructors. He made his final military move back to Denver, where he retired as a Senior Master Sergeant. The next chapter in his life saw him become a civilian instructor at Lowry AFB to US Military students and military students from other parts of the world until his second retirement. This retirement was prompted by Betty’s diagnosis of Stage IV Breast Cancer and his need and desire to take her to her many medical appointments. Betty succumbed to her cancer in 1992.
Three years after Betty’s death, on October 7, 1995 in Abilene, Art married Dorothy Stukey who, along with her first husband Daniel Stukey, had known the Samirans for many years as they worshipped at the same church. This took place because Art was willing to move to Abilene. Dorothy’s five children greatly appreciated his loving care of their mother and thought of him as their adopted father.
Arthur was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Betty, and a granddaughter Esther Veltkamp.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; children, Ricki Stephensen and husband Ed, Charlotte Samiran, and David Samiran; step-children, Sina Veltkamp and husband Rodney, Stephen Stukey and wife JoPat, Samuel Stukey and wife Polly, Sarah Hardwicke and husband Alan, and Andrew Stukey and wife Dalene; eleven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a host of extended family and friends.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Covenant Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 2742 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, TX 79602.
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