Obituary: Arthur Wellington Dexter, 88, WWII Veteran, School Committee Member

Arthur W. Dexter, 88, of Wakefield, died Wednesday, September 2nd. He was the beloved husband of Diane (Healey) Dexter for 65 years.

Born in South Kingstown, he was a son of the late Andrew S. and Helen (Stedman) Dexter.

Mr. Dexter was a graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts. He was an Army Veteran of World War II serving as a meat and dairy inspector in Chicago and later attached to the Veterinary Corp at Fort Lewis, Washington. In 1951 he and his father became partners of a Jersey dairy farm which had been in his father’s family for generations.

The name of the farm became Hope Jersey Farm. They later expanded to a milk processing plant and developed retail milk routes throughout Southern Rhode Island.

Mr. Dexter briefly worked in real estate. He was a former member of the South County Lions Club, the Masons, the Peace Dale Congregational Church, and a ten year member of the South Kingstown School Committee.

His passion was oil painting and displaying his art at the Wickford Art Festival. He will be remembered for being a great piano player and enjoyed playing at his granddaughter’s school programs and at home gatherings. He and his wife were interested in all aspects of the Civil War and visited many sites, including Civil War museums and homes in the South. They also enjoyed travelling to Europe.

He is also survived by a son Peter Dexter of Coventry; three daughters, Jacquelyn Thacher and Cheryl Resmini of Wakefield, and Robin Dexter of Hopkinton; and three granddaughters, Adriane Resmini of Wakefield, Stephanie Resmini of West Warwick, and Dianne Thacher of Incline Village, Nevada.

A graveside service was held at 10 AM Monday in Riverside Cemetery, Wakefield.

Memorial donations may be made to the RI Veterans Home, 480 Metacom Avenue, Bristol, RI 02809.