Arthur DuBois Obituary

Arthur Wood "Bill" DuBois, Jr. age 95, died peacefully at his home at The Willows on Saturday morning, March 22, 2014. Bill was delivered by his grandfather, Dr. Albert F. Merrell, to Arthur Wood DuBois and Rena Merrell in Hallstead, PA. He, his parents and his three sisters traveled between life on the farm to foreign service destinations in Poland, Columbia and Iran, just to name a few. He graduated from Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, CT and attended Cornell University until WWII intervened. He was preceded in death by his wife Alice "Sandra" Everill DuBois and granddaughter Kate DuBois. He is survived by his daughters, Judith Andress of Bellingham, WA, Pamela Davis of Melbourne, FL, Merrell Blackwell of Palestine, TX, Tracy DuBois of San Diego, CA, sons James T. DuBois and Arthur Wood DuBois III of San Diego, CA, 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. The consummate aviator, Bill "caught the flying bug" in 1938, in a J-3 cub. Subsequently, he flew for the Marines during WWII in the South Pacific in unarmed C 47's (DC-3's) on evacuation and resupply missions. After the war, he joined Panagra Airlines (PanAmerican/Grace). He and other pioneering pilots flew DC-3's carrying cargo and passengers through the Andes passes before the days of pressurized cabins and civilian radar. He retired from Braniff in 1978 with 31,000 hours of flight time spanning DC-3's to DC-8's via 707's and 727's. From his "flight deck" at The Willows, the door to which was always open, he could and did, until the day he died, pilot any airplane into any airport on his computer flight simulator. The DC-3 was HIS airplane. "In flying as in life, history is important. We learn from our predecessors mistakes". Later in life, Bill's adventures became more about those of the human spirit. He had an exuberant love of life, family and history as well as aviation and a clarity of faith that illuminated every conversation whether it was over a martini at Bob's, in his prayer group, with friends at The Willows or on WTA buses 3 and 4. He saw God in every single person and was curious about what made us all the same no matter where we were from or what religion we followed. He'd pop into a bus seat, turn to a fellow passenger and say, "Hi, I'm Bill, where are you from?" He shared contentment with his journey, confidence in his destination and a deep resonating faith. He touched many lives and will be greatly missed. In 'Behind the Façade and a Peek at Panagra', A.W. DuBois wrote, "I thank the Lord for the gift of my life." A Burial Eucharist will be held on Tuesday, April 15th at 2pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. A reception and celebration of Bill's memory will follow. At his request, please contribute to Hospice of Whatcom County in lieu of flowers. You may share memories with the family at www.westfordfuneralhome.com.