Arthur L. Schmitkons, 85, Active in Musical Organizations

He was born May 9, 1916 in Lorain, Ohio. He moved to Long Beach, CA in 1982. He recently returned to Ohio where he was a short term resident at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Avon.

He graduated from Lorain High School in 1934 and attended Oberlin College and Ohio State University.

He worked on his family's fruit farm until the mid 60's when Route 2 split up the farm. He then took a job as a salesman in the furniture department at Higbee's. He retired in 1981.

He was a member of the California Heights United Methodist Church in Long Beach and was a former member of the Park Avenue United Methodist Church in Amherst. He was active in amateur radio and enjoyed cooking and boating. He played both flute and piccolo and was active in several musical organizations in Lorain and in his church's orchestra.

Survivors include step-daughter: Diane Martin of Novato, CA; step-son: John Pawson of Huntington Beach, CA; sister: Katherine Woodin of Silver Springs, MD; and nephews: James and John Schmitkons of Lorain and Thomas Schmitkons of Syracuse, NY.

He was preceded in death by his first wife: Marjorie (nee Hearn) in 1973; second wife: Ruth (nee Baumann) Pawson in 1995; and his parents: Henry William and Katherine (nee Baumann) Schmitkons.

A memorial service is being planned for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 1, 2001 at the Old Stone United Methodist Church in Amherst.