Arthur S. Hunter, 89, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died March 1, 2010, at Kootenai Medical Center. He was born Oct. 4, 1920, in Richmond, Calif., to Charles and Amelia Hunter.

He grew up in Montclair, Calif., and graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1939. Art served as a corporal in the Army Air Corps during WWII and was stationed in Texas, Townsville, Australia, and the Philippines. He came home in 1945 with an honorable discharge acquiring the WWII victory medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, one bronze star, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal and a good conduct medal.

He married Winifred Abbey Shepperd on June 26, 1947, in Berkeley, Calif. On their honeymoon to Santa Cruz they recorded a record where he asks her “what have you done today, what have you accomplished?” He started his career of 30 years as a mailman in Oakland where they called him the “greyhound of Broadway,” and then Walnut Creek, Calif., where he retired at the age of 52 in 1972.  While in Walnut Creek he was a member of the Presbyterian Church choir and the pitcher for the post office softball team. He bought his wife Winifred’s family home in Coeur d’Alene where they retired to in 1972. Winnie passed away in May 1988 and he remarried Katherine Ponozzo in 1990.  They lived in Oak Crest and enjoyed Red River Hot Springs with Katie’s family. They enjoyed 14 years together and Katie passed away in 2004.

He was a very hard worker, sometimes having three jobs to support his family. He delivered papers to the paper boys, worked at a gas station after his mailman job, and sold firewood. He was a member of the Sun Valley Improvement Association and the Fort Grounds Homeowner’s Association.  He enjoyed fishing, gardening, softball, singing, dancing, gambling, playing golf and playing the saxophone. He played with the Sheriff’s Posse Band where they played “California Here I Come” in the New York World’s Fair Parade, and he played in a band named “Snap and Snarl” with Walter Carl.  He sang with the Lake City Harmonizers and even played Santa Claus a couple years for the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Business Association. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion.

Art had several hundred funny sayings like: “What shall I say today?” and “Did you see that fish jump?” Some of his fondest memories were when his brother Richard came to visit him in the Philippines and drank all of his ration of beer, and then riding in the sidecar of his brother Wilbert’s motorcycle delivering newspapers. He was a wonderful man and we’re going to miss him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives; his brothers, Wilber and Richard; his sister, Muriel Tabler; and a special friend, Peggy Nist.

He is survived by daughters, Johanna Rhae Smith and husband, Albert, and Kathleen Getchius and husband, Ray; a son, Robert Charles Hunter and wife, Linda Spencer Hunter; stepchildren Dave and Carol Ponozzo, Pam and Kingsly Steinbruecker, Ron and Cindy Ponozzo, and Mike and Shelly Ponozzo; grandchildren John Giles and wife, Jennifer, James Giles and wife, Jamie, Joy Marguerite Giles, Joel Hunter, Tom Getchius and wife, Jennifer, Joe Getchius and fiancee, Ellie Kemp, and Will Getchius; and great-grandchildren, Elise Giles, Marie Giles, Clara Giles, Cadalyn Rae Getchius and Chloe Ren Getchius.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, with military graveside honors to follow at Forest Cemetery.

Please visit Art’s memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.