Arvon E. Caruthers

Arvon Ewing Caruthers, 92, died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, March 4, 2012, at the St. Paul Health Center in Denver, Colorado. A life-long "citizen" of Texas, his cremated remains will be flown to the Houston National Cemetery for interment.

Caruthers was born to Susie and William E. Caruthers on December 22, 1919, in Yorktown, Texas. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1939. During World War II, he served as Gunner's Mate Second Class aboard the U.S.S. Tanager, a minesweeper assigned to the Philippines. Caruthers caught some shrapnel in his arm when his ship was sunk in Manila Bay by the Japanese. He defended Corregidor until ordered to surrender to Japanese forces in May 1942. Caruthers survived as a prisoner of war for more than three years in Japan, until he was liberated by American troops in August 1945.

Upon his return to the U.S., Caruthers was promoted to Chief Gunner's Mate and honored with the Purple Heart Medal. He married the lovely Wanda W. Turner on December 27, 1945, in Houston. Over the years they had a daughter and a son and lived in seven states, plus Newfoundland and Guam. Caruthers retired from the Navy as a Chief Warrant Officer in 1969, after 30 years of service. He and his family returned home to Texas to settle near family in Shepherd in the mid-1970s.

Tragically, Caruthers' wife, Wanda, died in an automobile accident in June 2001. Caruthers' remaining family includes his two children, Peggy A. Bainbridge of Centennial, Colorado, and Michael E. Caruthers of Leesburg, Alabama, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren; three siblings: Dorothy Salmon of Seguin, Luther Caruthers of Palestine, and Jane Jenkins of San Antonio; four in-laws: Perry Bearden, Sr. of Houston, Buna Henderson of Shepherd, David Johnson of Livingston, and June Engram of Onalaska; plus numerous extended family members and friends.

According to his wishes, no services will be held other than military funeral honors at the Houston National Cemetery on Wednesday, March 28 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in Caruthers' name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the Disabled American Veterans.