Monday, November 12, 2012 1:18 pm

Thomas Evans MacArthur, Jr, resident of Northgate Townhomes, passed away on Tuesday, November 6^, 2012 at home.  He was born in Rutherford County, son of the late Thomas Evans MacArthur, Sr. and Violet Hill MacArthur.  Mr. MacArthur graduated from Shelby High School and Gaston Technical Institute studying radio and T.V. technology.  He worked summers during high school at MacArthur’s Tin and Roofing, later working ten years in Atlanta as a service engineer for Therm-Mech, Inc. Returning to Shelby, he and his late wife Sibyl Russ MacArthur were instrumental in forming and coaching the Greater Cleveland County Soccer Association.  A sergeant in the U.S. Army, Mr. MacArthur served in Germany as an Army Security Agent.  He also served as corresponding secretary in the CC Genealogy Society for many years.  A craftsman, his mediums were copper, tin and iron.  An avid speed reader, he established a personal library of over two thousand books, with focus on the Christian religion, archeology, and military history.  Mr. MacArthur was a member of Patterson Springs Baptist Church and the Jabez Sunday School class.

Survivors include the following: sons, Thomas Evans (Julia) MacArthur III of Lawndale and Noel Aaron (Lucinda) MacArthur and granddaughter Allie Catherine of Shelby.  Wife Patty McSwain Bridges MacArthur and sons Patrick William Bridges of Shelby and Timothy McDonald (Melinda) Bridges, granddaughter Trinity Rachelle and grandson Justin Tyler of Lexington, Kentucky; brother Robert Douglas (Carol Ann) MacArthur of Shelby, nephew Dr. Robert Douglas MacArthur, Jr. and niece Carmen MacArthur.  Special relatives:  Mr. Bill McArthur of Forest City, NC and Mrs. Marion Butler and Ms. Carolyn McSwain of Shelby.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 - 11:00am on Friday, November 9, 2012 at Patterson Springs Baptist Church with services being held at 11:00am, officiated by Rev. Steve Waters and Rev. Boyd Jackson. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Discretionary Fund at Patterson Springs Baptist Church, 2107 Cleveland Avenue, Grover, North Carolina, 28073.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mr. MacArthur.