SIDNEY ARBOUR OBITUARY
Sidney Vincent Arbour Jr., 97, died peacefully in Baton Rouge on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. He was born Jan. 7, 1914, in Baton Rouge. Mr. Arbour attended Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, and was a graduate of St. Stanislaus College in Bay St. Louis, Miss., and LSU. Except for his military service, he was a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge. Mr. Arbour was a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy as a gunnery officer in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. In the Atlantic Theater, his ships transported fuel to the African and European continents, and in the Pacific Theater, he was on ships present at Iwo Jima and the occupation of Japan. After the war, Mr. Arbour worked for 20 years in the research lab at the Standard Oil Co. Baton Rouge refinery, followed by a career as the head of the inspection and appraisal department of Union Federal Savings & Loan Association, until his retirement. Mr. Arbour held both the MAI and SRA designations from the Appraisal Institute. He loved houses, their architecture and everything about building them. He built several during his life, including his beautiful home on Ramsey Drive where he resided for the past 47 years. He could hardly pass a house under construction without stopping in and inspecting it. He possessed a keen memory and many will long remember his stories of Huey Long, old Baton Rouge and his war experiences. Mr. Arbour was a committed volunteer for his Catholic faith and the Baton Rouge community. He served Our Lady of the Lake Hospital and the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady for many years and in many capacities, including service as chairman of the building committee during the planning and construction of the new hospital building on Hennessey Boulevard, chairman of the board of directors of the hospital and the Ollie Steele Burden Manor Nursing Home, and a member of each of those boards for many years. In addition, he was the appraiser of record on the sale of the original hospital building to the state of Louisiana. More recently, Mr. Arbour was instrumental in assisting the hospital in assembling a large tract of land necessary for its expansion at its present location. Mr. Arbour was a registered member of both St. Aloysius parish and St. Joseph Cathedral. He was appointed to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem by Bishop Stanley Ott, held the rank of knight grand cross, and was awarded the Order’s Pilgrim’s Jerusalem Shell by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. He was a lifelong supporter of St. Stanislaus, Catholic High School and St. Joseph’s Academy and, together with his wife, Ann, was honored by the SJA Foundation of St. Joseph’s Academy for many years of outstanding community service. Mr. Arbour also served as president of the Lakeshore Lions Club, commander of the Lt. Gen. Troy Middleton Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars, and was a longtime member of the board of directors of Bahlinger Inc. and Kornmeyer Furniture Co. “Gumps,” as he was lovingly known to his family, is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Peter Wilbert and Alice Ford Arbour, of Houston, Sidney Vincent III and Kathryn Acree Arbour, of Mobile, Ala., and James Gerard and Candyce Hiter Arbour, of Magden, Switzerland; three daughters and sons-in-law, Julia Maria and Kevin Patrick McClanahan, and Mary Grace and Albert Raymond Miller, all of Atlanta, and Ann Frances and Peter Michael Olyniec, of Katy, Texas; grandchildren and their spouses, Brian Kearney Arbour and Erin Ackerman, of Union City, N.J., Megan Arbour Long and Dr. Wesley Long, of Houston, Blake Patrick Arbour, of Baton Rouge, Kevin Patrick McClanahan Jr. and Nicole McClanahan, of Petaluma, Calif., Flynn Patrick McClanahan and Meghan Mikulak, Molly McClanahan Welch and Andrew Welch, Thomas Alexander Dechman III and Lorinda Norton Dechman, Alexandra Miller Cornwell, and Caitlin Grace Miller, all of Atlanta, Sophie Olyniec Magness and Dr. Marc Magness, of Houston, Sidney Vincent Arbour IV and Marissa Jennings Arbour, of Atlanta, Joseph O’Neal Arbour and Jonathan Bryant Arbour, both of Mobile, Benjamin Hiter Arbour and Margaret Anderson Arbour, of Fort Worth, and James Andrew Arbour, of Freiburg, Germany; 14 great grandchildren; sisters, Sister Jane Louise Arbour, C.S.J., Eloise Arbour Selig and husband Roland, and Virginia Arbour Tomeny, all of Baton Rouge, and a host of nieces and nephews, including Kitty Arbour LeBlanc who contributed so much to Dad’s last years. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Ann Bryant Wilbert Arbour; parents, Sidney Vincent Arbour Sr. and Julia May Bahlinger Arbour; two brothers, J.B. Arbour and Robert Frederick Arbour; and two sisters, Gertie Lee Arbour McNeely and Katherine Arbour Hannaman. The family wishes to thank his dedicated and loyal housekeepers, Dorothy Washington and Shirley Collins. Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home 825 Government St., on Thursday, Feb. 17, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visitation at St. Joseph Cathedral on Friday from 9 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Interment in Roselawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Catholic High School, 855 Hearthstone Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, St. Joseph’s Academy, 3080 Kleinert Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70806 or Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, 5000 Hennessey Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.
Published by The Advocate from Feb. 14 to Feb. 17, 2011.
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MEMORIES & CONDOLENCES
FOR SIDNEY ARBOUR
24 Entries
Sidney was one of the few finest men I have ever known and I so admired him. I hope all of his family are doing well.
Mary Margaret Dupont Coffey
February 8, 2021
Our sincere condolences to you on the loss of your Dad.
Sincerely, Ann & Tom Hoar
March 1, 2011
My thoughts and prayers are with al of my “Arbour brothers and sisters” Having grown up together, I spent many, many hours at the house on Belmont. Mr. Sidney was like a second father to me, and I always had the utmost respect and love for him. I know that my Mamasan and Papasan and Sidney and Ann are just having a wonderful reunion in heaven. We are all so blessed by the bountiful legacy that has been left to us. I feel very special to have grown up as “one of the kids” Love to all of you, Julia, Peter, Vincent, Mary Grace, Jimmy and Ann Frances. We are now the generation to try to follow in our parents footsteps. God Bless and Love, Fran
Fran Hains Berry
February 17, 2011
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your father and send our deepest sympathies.
I remember many great times at the Arbour home with Vincent, Jimmy, Mr and Mrs Arbour, and the rest of the family.
George and Denye Harris.
George Harris
February 16, 2011
Mrs. Julia, you taught me in elementary school a number of years ago. I’m very sorry for the loss of your father. Even though I didn’t know your father, I know he was a wonderful man because of the care and devotion you bestowed on your students.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Greta Armand Dawson
February 16, 2011
I was so honored to have”Gump” at my wedding in Mobile November 26,
2010.From my brief encounter, I knew what a great person he was ..My deepest sympathy to the family.Ruth Acree.
February 15, 2011
Sister Jane Louise:
I had the privilege of working with Sidney at Exxon when I came here in 1958. Naturally, we became close friends and we stayed close friends for all these years. He was a wonderful person and I cherished his friendship, his strong faith, and his dedication to his family, his faith, and his community. He was an unforgettable person and I am so proud that I was able to call him my friend. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Our best to you, Sister Jane.
Pat and Bill Bailey
Pat and Bill Bailey
February 15, 2011
It was a privilege to have been a niece of Uncle Sidney’s and to have enjoyed wonderful times with my Arbour cousins on Ramsey Drive. His legacy is one that we will all hold dear. It is comforting to know that he is with Annee in Heaven. Love, Gloria Ann Wilbert Crassons, Carriere, MS
February 15, 2011
To the Arbour family we send our deepest sympathy. A wonderful legacy will be left for you to remember.
Jack Jackson and family, Baton Rouge, LA
