Bruce MacArthur

Bruce MacArthur, 96, of Ashburn, Virginia and Charlevoix, Michigan, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2017.  He is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law: Laurie MacArthur (David Nussbaum) of Ocean, NJ, Karen Schuiling (William) of Alexandria, VA, Marjorie Veiga (Juan) of Vienna, VA, and Nancy (Peter) Smith of Clifton, VA, as well as 5 grandchildren, Helen and Carl Smith, Morgan Braswell, and Christine and Andrea Veiga who are fifth generation summer residents of Charlevoix. He is predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Groat MacArthur, with whom he traveled the world and changed their hometowns for the better.  Bruce was a third generation executive for General Motors Corp at Buick for 33 years and was very active in community service in Grand Blanc, Michigan, where he and Barbara founded the Grand Blanc Beautification League.  Upon retiring and moving to Charlevoix, Michigan in 1979, Bruce and Barbara were founding members of Keep Charlevoix Beautiful and helped build the Charlevoix Area Community Pool.  He was well known as the implementer of his friend Dale Boss’ idea to line the streets of Charlevoix with petunias. He also served on the boards of WATCH and spearheaded the North Point Preserve Project for the Little Traverse Conservancy. He was a Rotarian and Lions Club member and in 1988 the Charlevoix Chamber of Commerce elected him Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

Bruce was born and raised in Flint Michigan to Roy and Mildred MacArthur. He attended high school at Flint Northern where he played football and ran track.  Summers at Culver Military Academy in Indiana helped form his character, and he was deeply proud of being named regimental commander there.  After graduating from high school, Bruce returned to Culver to teach sailing. During WWII he served in the US Army, teaching cartography. He achieved the rank of captain and served as Company Commander in Japan as part of the Allied occupying forces.  He graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S degree in Applied Science and was a member of Psi Upsilon where he was known as the “All American Boy.”  Bruce was an accomplished athlete all his life.  While he loved golf and sailboat racing, his true passion was tennis, and he was known for his signature “Welcome to Charlevoix” drop shot.  He won many tournaments, but he was most proud of being the US Tennis Association’s #1 singles player in the mid-Atlantic 85-and-older division. He played tennis until he was 90 and never lost his love of competition.  A week before he died, he was still playing bridge and rooting for Michigan State’s Spartans.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Charlevoix Area Community Pool at www.charlevoixpool.org. There will be a memorial service at First Congregational Church in Charlevoix during the summer of 2018.

Arrangements are being handled by the Winchester Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.