Arthur Joseph Belanger, 96, died peacefully at his home in Avon surrounded by his loving family, Sept. 12, 2013, after a period of failing health. He was born in Brockton, MA on Aug. 21, 1917, the son of Joseph and Emma (Ferron) Belanger. Arthur grew up within the close-knit French community on Brockton's eastside, where he attended the Sacred Heart elementary school before graduating from Brockton High School in 1937. Still in the midst of the Depression, and faced with limited job opportunities, Arthur enlisted in the US Army, which took him to various localities including service within the Horse Calvary in the Panana Canal Zone. He returned home after his discharge, but with the outbreak of World War II, he soon re-enlisted, ultimately serving in the Pacific Theatre as Sargent in the Army Air Force. There he was involved in the construction of air fields within the Marianas Island chain, which proved so instrumental in ending the war with Japan. It was during this period that he met and married his wife Rita Thibault of Natick, MA at a ceremony in Salina Kansas, near Smoky Hill Army Airfield. After the war, Arthur and Rita lived in Brockton for a short time before settling in Avon to raise their family. He worked in cutting die shops in Brockton for 32 years, and as a metal fabricator for 12 years until his retirement. He was a call firefighter with the Avon Fire Department for 25 years. He held memberships in the Union St. Jean Baptist, the Club National, and VFW Post 8892 in Avon. Arthur always liked to keep busy; working in his vegetable garden, tinkering with household projects, and throughout his life he was an avid reader, especially of historical subjects. After retirement, he discovered an interest in golf, and together with Rita, he loved to travel; taking cruises and especially spending time each year at their timeshare in Aruba. Most of all however, they enjoyed spending time with their family | all generations. Arthur loved family gatherings, and was always up for a game of cards, a round or horseshoes, or just sitting back and watching the kids play. Later in life Arthur encountered some of his greatest challenges - the loss of his vision due to macular degeneration, and the passing of his beloved Rita, wife of 62 years. But he persevered. He took advantage of the services provided by the Mass Commission for the blind, and continued his love of reading through the Perkins Talking Book Library. Learning to live alone, he began taking long walks and enjoyed stopping to chat with his neighbors along Leo's Lane. He loved Leo's Lane and the neighbors that turned into friends. Arthur remained active and willing to try new things, even joining an aerobics class, 'Exercise with Cindy,' at the Avon Senior Center at the age of 94. Modest, courageous, intelligent, loving, and easy-going, are all words that could describe the man he was. Arthur's was an example of a life well lived. He will be sorely missed by those that knew and loved him. Arthur was preceded in death by his beloved wife Rita Thibault Belanger; his son Richard Belanger; and his brothers Alfred, Esdras, and Donat Belanger, and sister Jeannette Belanger Dunn. He is survived by his children, Joseph Belanger, Cheryl Carveale, Jeanne Hallissey (all of Avon) and Pamela Dobie of Rockland; nine grandchildren, Stephen Hallissey, Lauren Belanger Jones, Megan Belanger, Jennifer Carveale Hutchings (all of Avon), Danielle Belanger of Waltham, Adam Belanger of Weymouth, Samuel Dobie of Rockland, Jonathan Carveale of Hanover, and Joseph Hallissey of Dorchester; and by seven great-grandchildren, Matthew and Morgan Hallissey, Liam and Graeme Jones (all of Avon), Amelia and William Carveale of Hanover and Joseph Hallissey of Dorchester. He is also survived by his dear 'big sister' Alice Belanger Lacombe of Taunton, and sisters-in-law Jacquelin Thibault Norton and Marcie Thibault, both of Natick. As was Arthur's request, following cremation, graveside services will be private.