Earl Printy Arthur

On August 4, 2023, Earl “Printy” Arthur passed from this life into the outstretched arms of the Almighty Creator and of his wife, Jo Ann.

Printy was born in Sherwood, Ohio in 1924 to Methodist minister Reverend Edward Lowell and Edith Printy Arthur. They raised four children, Bill (Jane), Evie (Paul Ziegler), Printy (Jo), and Betty (Cecil Moore), in northwestern Ohio. Printy graduated from Arlington High School in 1942 where he sang, studied trombone and played on conference champion football and basketball teams coached by Harold Castor. The Arthurs made life-long family friends at the Arlington United Methodist Church.

Printy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March, 1943, training as a Hospital Corpsman. He was awarded five battle stars for his participation in amphibious landings at Saipan, Peleliu, Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. Also search Printy Arthur: Library of Congress, courtesy historian Richard Baranowski and Pritzker Military Museum.

After the war Printy returned to Bowling Green State University where he continued his trombone and choral conducting studies, graduating with two degrees in music. He is a Charter Member of the Epsilon Eta Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, he and Jo having made friendships of a lifetime.

At BG Printy met his future wife, Jo Ann Enger of Mount Healthy marrying in 1949. Jo and Printy were blessed with five children: Michael (Laurie), Jennifer (Ron) Meyer, David (Patricia), Matthew, and Laura (Carl) Stewart. They raised their family in Port Clinton, Perrysburg, Tampa and Raleigh, retiring to Perrysburg in 1992 where they joined the First United Methodist Church.

Jo and Printy (GG and GPop) shared over 70 years of family, love and precious memories. They traveled to all 50 states, Mexico, Hong Kong, Europe and Canada and were drawn back numerous times to the British Isles and Jo’s beloved Yorkshire. Printy was thrilled when Jo earned her BA in International Studies with Honors in 1985 at the U. of South Florida. The richness of their lives is passed along through 12 grand children, 16 great-grandchildren and a wonderful extended family. With love and gratitude our family thanks Chris Carlton for her tremendous love and support for Printy and Jo in the last years of their lives.

Music was a special part of Printy’s life, beginning as a “preacher’s kid” singing in his father’s church choirs. Arlington HS band and men’s quartet, BGSU’s first Big Band in 1942, the Admiral’s Blue Jacket Choir and 40 Voice Choir at Great Lakes Naval training and after Okinawa, lead trombone in the U.S. Navy Big Band in Hawai’i. Choir work was a passion, studying under Dr. J. P. Kennedy at BGSU. For 16 years he directed choirs in McComb, Port Clinton and Perrysburg, including productions of “Annie Get Your Gun”. Printy joined the Toledo jazz scene playing trombone gigs at Ragtime Rick’s and Rusty’s Jazz Club and sitting with BGSU Jazz Lab Band.

What a wonderful life, such precious memories!

For those wishing to honor Printy and Jo, please keep in mind: Toledo Calvary Church in Maumee, Canines 4 Christ in Lutz, Fl and Honorflight.org. Finally, many thanks and much love to our parents’ Sunset Village Family. No service is currently planned but please email Mike Arthur with thoughts and to be updated. 58caliber@gmail.com