Enfield Obituary: Arthur Spaulding, 90

Arthur Glenn Spaulding, 90, of Suffield, beloved husband of Dorothy (Bunting) Spaulding passed away Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at his home.

Born September 26, 1925 in Suffield, son of the late A. Ward and Emergene (Hinckley) Spaulding he lived in Suffield all his life. Glenn served with the U.S. Air Force and the CT Air National Guard as a fighter pilot and operations and maintenance officer for 23 years. As a member of the Air National Guard, he did several experimental flights for Strategic Air Command (SAC), flying an F-100 jet to altitudes of up to 75, 000 ft. in order to compare it to the Mig 17. SAC didn’t believe it was possible to fly that high, but Glenn proved that it could be done. This was kept top secret for 10 years after these flights. Simultaneously, Glenn owned and operated Spaulding Gardens, a retail and wholesale florist that employed up to 80 people for 29 years.

After retiring from the Air National Guard and the florist business, Glenn was an Airport Manager at Bradley International Airport for ten years. Glenn was a charter member of the Suffield Rotary Club, as well as President, Vice President, Treasurer and District Secretary for 3 years each. He was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary. He was Police Commissioner of Suffield for eight years and Chairman for four years; Chairman of Suffield Sewer Study Commission for four years, he was Chairman of Suffield TriCentennial Parade Committee, Boy Scouts Troop Committee five years, Explorer Scouts Leader three years. He belonged to the Enfield Chamber of Commerce for eight years. Glenn belonged to Quiet Birdmen, where her was Key Man for two years, he also belonged to Masons, Shriners, Jesters, Flying Units, Legion of Honor Unit, National Sojourners, Scottish Rites, Suffield Grange, Reserve Officers Association, Retired Officers Association, Suffield Sportsman Club, Agawam Gun Club, New England Air Museum, Second Baptist Church and CT Florist Association.

Besides his wife Dorothy, he is survived by his three children, Lynne Goodman and her husband Gerry of Oakland, CA, Randy Spaulding and his wife Debi of Enfield, Cathy LeBlond and her husband Henry of Belchertown, MA; six grandchildren, Christine Murdock, Jamie, Laura and Sheri Spaulding, Jennifer Raetz, Gregory LeBlond; six great grandchildren, Matthew Spaulding, Chloe Spaulding, Brian and Tyler Maxwell, Henry Raetz, Noah Wiemokley; two sisters, Muriel White and Elaine Attanasio and her husband Philip; a sister-in-law, Judy Spaulding; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Merwyn Spaulding; three sisters, Warda Spaulding, Norma Merrill, Claire Crouss.

His family will receive friends Friday, October 2, 2015 from 4-7 PM at the Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, 443 East St. N. (Rt. 159), Suffield with a Masonic Service being held at 6:30 PM. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 3, 2015, 10 AM, at Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Suffield.

Memorial donations may be made to Shriner’s Children Hospital, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104 or to New England Air Museum, Bradley International Airport, 36 Perimeter Rd., Windsor Locks, CT 06096.

See more at www.carmonfuneralhome.com.