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Arthur Kingston Funeral Services for Arthur Kingston will be Friday, October 3, 2008 at First Baptist Church in Carlsbad, NM, at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Brian Taylor, Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth El will be presiding. Interment will follow at the Carlsbad Cemetery with military honors being performed by the Carlsbad Veteran's Honor Guard. Masonic graveside services will be performed by Eddy Lodge #21 AF&AM. West Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. Arthur Kingston was born December 17, 1919, in Karlshafen, Germany to Isadore and Franziska Koenigsthal. Fearing for his safety during the Holocaust his parents sent Arthur to stay with relatives in Carlsbad in 1937. He was a mere 17 years old and knew no English, yet he immediately went to work at Bryan's Grocery. When he became fluent in English, he moved to Roswell to work for Safeway. It was not long before he was able to move to El Paso and manage the Safeway meat market. Arthur reported for Army service in January of 1942 when he was 22 years old. During his four years of service he attained the rank of T-4 Surgical Technician and Unit Interpreter. He assisted in over 1,000 serious surgeries while in his Mobil Army Surgical Hospital Unit and served as an interpreter of General Patton. He received WWII awards and medals for Normandy (Omaha Beach), Northern France Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), ETO with Silver Star, Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Medal, Good Conduct, and Victory. After service he returned to Carlsbad and continued his trade as a butcher. On July 4, 1948 he married Berta and enjoyed fireworks in Carlsbad ever since. During his lifetime Arthur had many careers. He owned and operated his restaurant, Art's Delicatessen on Fox Street across from the Court House. Later, he managed the Apache Canyon Trading Post for 10 years. The most rewarding occupation Arthur had was working for Carlsbad Municipal Schools as Food Services Director. Although considered work by most, Art enjoyed nothing more than providing nutritious meals to students attending Carlsbad Schools. He proudly served as Food Service Director from 1968 to 1985. After he retired he volunteered for many community organizations including the American Red Cross, Community Concert Association, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 1990 Arthur, along with his wife Berta, was awarded Carlsbad's most prestigious award, the A. J. Crawford Humanitarian Award. Arthur was an active member of the Elk's Lodge 1558, VFW 3277, DAV 13, Eddy Masonic Lodge #21 AF&AM and was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. Arthur Kingston passed away Monday, September 29, 2008, at Carlsbad Medical Center. Arthur is survived by his only child Bill of Carlsbad; four grandchildren Daniel Jeffrey and wife Leslie, Jordan, Alexandra, and Taylor; all of Albuquerque. Arthur was a very proud great-grandfather of Cooper and Dawson. As Arthur felt flowers are for the living, please make any gestures of sympathy to the Carlsbad Foundation or any other local charity of your preference.
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