Published: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 2:19 PM CDT in the Willcox Range News, Willcox, Arizona

"Arthur Harold Farthing 1925-2009

Arthur Harold Farthing, 74, of Willcox, Ariz. died July 5, 2009. Born Jan. 16, 1925 in Centralia, Ill., he grew up on the family farm. He was taught the family trade of machining and although he became a tool and die machinist, his true passion was prospecting in the hills and deserts of the west. He served in WWII in Europe and returned to duty as a Sgt. to train cadets for the Korean conflict. After his return from Europe, he attended the Colorado School of Mines. He continued to support his family as a machinist as well as operated several small mining companies in California and Arizona throughout his 60 plus years of mining.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn (Johnson) Farthing. Arthur, known as Harold by his siblings, was preceded in death by his parents, Lannie Eugene Farthing and Ola Myrtle (Waller) Farthing; two brothers, Lewis Waller and Emery Eugene Farthing. He is also survived by two brothers, Leslie Odis Farthing of New Braunfels, Texas and Robert Lee Farthing of Odin, Ill. His sister, Ola Mildred (Farthing) Davis resides in Alamogordo, N.M. He has a son, James Edward Farthing of Phoenix; and a daughter, Brenda Sue (Farthing) Pierce of Willcox. Two grandsons, Jeremy David and Justin Luke Pierce; one great-grandson, Alex, and two great granddaughters, Chloe and Riley Pierce. Art had also helped raise several children in his previous marriage to Brenda's mother (Jean Hornsby) and these children still consider him their father: Dan, Gary, David (deceased) and Gloria Lewis; and, June, Kim Allen and Karlene Roser. He also raised and adopted a grandson, Jeff Allen Thomas Farthing.

Art had a great sense of humor, a poker face that was undaunted and he was at his best in groups of people. Perhaps that is why the Lord blessed him with large families as a young boy, an adult raising his own children and in later years as a grandfather to his current wife's grandchildren since their own grandfather had passed away long before they could know him. We would like to thank all who knew him and helped during his last months of life. There was a brief viewing on Thursday, July 16 at Westlawn Chapel in Willcox, Ariz. followed by an internment in Phoenix, Ariz. at the National Memorial (Veteran's) Cemetery on Friday, July 17."