Thomas H. W. "Arpi" Ames

WALPOLE — Thomas H. W. "Arpi" Ames, of Walpole, died on June 18, 2009, at age 94.

Born on Aug. 28, 1914, in Boston, the son of the late Ralph E. and Ada Maud (White) Ames, he was the youngest of six, brother to the late Frederick and Ralph Ames, Phyllis Cunningham, Helen Becker and Edith Vosburgh. He was the devoted husband of the late Hazel A. (Taylor) and father of Thomas R. of Dennisport, and Cynthia A. Gardiner of Walpole, formerly of Westwood. Thomas had two grandchildren, Jennifer L. Rutan of Carlsbad, Calif., and Bradford T. Rutan and his wife Jeanie of Walpole. He was affectionately called "Arpi" by all.

Thomas served from 1943 to 1946 as a lieutenant in the Merchant Marine Service and sailed both the Atlantic and Pacific in World War II.

Thomas and his wife lived in Quincy most of their lives. He loved to dance and was active in the Wollaston Neighborhood Club. He was a member of the Manet (Delta) Lodge of Masons. He was an avid skier and a founding member of the Old Colony Ski Club and had been a member of the Mogul Meister Ski Club since 1960. He worked for Dow Corning Corp. as eastern region manager of their silicone products division. Upon retiring to Yarmouthport in 1980, he became an active member of the Bass River Golf Club. He also had a small ocean cottage in Dennisport, where he loved to spend his summers.

A wake will be held at the Thomas F. Alexander & Sons Funeral Home, 45 Common St., in Walpole on Sunday, June 21, from 3 to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 22, at 10 a.m., at The First Parish of Westwood United Church, 340 Clapboardtree St., Westwood. Burial at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne will be held at a later date.

For directions or guestbook thomasfuneralhomes.com.

Alexander F. Thomas & Sons

Walpole 508-668-0154