Arthur Barrett Thomson, 72, of Mesa, Arizona, formerly of Cape Girardeau, went to be with his Creator and Lord after an extended illness with leukemia Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014.

He was born Jan. 10, 1942, in Bridgeton, New Jersey, to the late Oliver Joshua and Carlotta Grace Cornatzer Thomson.

When Arthur lived in Cape Girardeau, he enjoyed his church family at Cape First Church and his hobbies, playing the piano and carpentry. He was a veteran in the United States Army, serving in Okinawa, Japan, where he became proficient in Morse code. He also learned to fly in Okinawa, which became a lifetime occupation as a pilot in several states, including Alaska.

Survivors include two daughters, Laurie Thomson of Los Angeles and Kyla Galloway of Wanatchee, Washington; three brothers, Oliver Thomson of Valley Mills, Texas, Thomas H. Thomson of Darien, Georgia, and Stephen A. Thomson of Arlington, Texas; and a sister, Elizabeth G Jung of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Deloris, mother of his daughters; his second wife, Edith; and two sisters, Carlotta Turner and Adelene Seevers.

Interment of cremains was in Lorimier Cemetery on Nov. 17, 2014.

Announcement courtesy of McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.