Arthur L. Stillwell

Arthur L. Stillwell, 82, Insurance Agency Owner

RARITAN TWP. - Arthur L. Stillwell died on Friday, July 5, 2002, at home. He was 82. Born at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, he was the son of Lester and Bess Vanderbeek Stillwell. He grew up in North Branch and later lived in Asbury for 25 years. He moved to Raritan Township about one and a half years ago. He graduated from Somerville High School in 1939 and was noted for his activity in the theater group and barbershop quartet. He attended Rider Business College in Lawrenceville. He loved farming and during his school years he assisted at relatives' farms. When he graduated business college, he became an underwriter for Selected Risk Insurance Co. in Branchville, was later appointed an agent for them and began building his insurance business. He entered the Air Force in 1942 and served in the 622 Air Materials Squadron, supplying ammunition for fighter planes on newly liberated Pacific Islands. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. After discharge he pursued his love of dairy farming in Oldwick and then in Ringoes until 1959. He then began his career in the insurance business, purchased the Reed & Son agency in Whitehouse and later the Blazure Agency in Annandale. He continued working until his death. He was a member and former trustee of the First United Presbyterian Church of Amwell at Larison's Corner. He was a member of the South Branch Grange and the Stanton Grange, the Hunterdon Hills Lions Club, the American Legion Post in Whitehouse, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Martinsville and the Hunterdon 200 Club. His wife, Elizabeth Drake Skillman, died in 2000. He is survived by a son, Kenneth Stillwell of Cokesbury; two daughters, Susan Kegley of Bristol, Tenn. and Elizabeth Zaricor of Montrose, Ala; five grandchildren; one great-granddaughter and long-time friend and confidant, Susanne M. Gagnon. Memorial services will be held Friday, July 19 at 2:30 p.m. at the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home in Flemington. The calling period will be at the funeral home that day starting at 1 p.m. Burial is at Mountain View Cemetery in Cokesbury. Memorial contributions can be made to the Hunterdon Hospice, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington 08822.