Arthur died February 16, 2013, in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He was drafted into Civilian Public Service in 1942 from Cordell, Oklahoma, where is occupation was listed as Farmer. He was a member of the CPS-103 smokejumpers during WWII and jumped at Cave Junction in 1944 and at North Cascades in 1945. He was a bricklayer after the war and a member of the Mennonite Brethren Church.