Arthur W. Price Jr.

PRICE, Jr. RADM ARTHUR W. PRICE USN (Retired)
RADM Arthur W. Price, Jr., USN (Retired), a forty-three year resident of Coronado, died at home Wednesday evening, August 22, 2007, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Admiral Arthur W. Price, Jr., was born in Trenton, New Jersey, November 21, 1920. Raised in New Egypt, a small town in central New Jersey, he graduated from Allentown High School, Allentown, NJ. When Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an apprentice seaman. In September, 1941, he was transferred from the USS Wright to Patrol Squadron 14 where he was present during the Japanese air attack on Hawaii in December 1941. In 1943, Admiral Price returned to the continental United States where he commenced an eighteen month course in the Aviation Flight Program which culminated in the designation as Naval Aviation Pilot (NAP) and his promotion to Ensign in November, 1944. On June 20, 1952 in Monterey, California, Lieutenant Price married Peggy Jane Wynn of Syosset, New York. The first of six children, John, was born one year later in Coronado. In February, 1956, RADM Price changed his designator from aviation to 1100 which included many tours aboard ships and ashore. He attended Marquette University and the University of Maryland, receiving a B.S. degree; Naval postgraduate school, receiving a B.S. degree in Navy Management and the Industrial War College in Washington, D.C. His sea duty included Air Officer of the USS Floyds Bay; Executive Officer of the USS Stribling; Commands of the USS Liddle, USS Ashland, USS Duluth, Amphibious Squadron Eleven, the River Patrol Force (Vietnam), the Seventh Fleet Amphibious Force and command of the Naval Force of Vietnam. Admiral Price has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with Combat V twice; the Legion of Merit (two awards); Bronze Star Award (three awards); Purple Heart; the Combat Action Ribbon; Presidential Unit Citation plus various awards and medals from foreign countries including the highest award given by the South Vietnamese government. Admiral Price was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors and the Silver Eagles, an elite group composed of former naval enlisted pilots, three of whom rose from apprentice seaman to flag rank. On July 1, 1975, RADM Price was placed on the temporary disability retired list. On July 1, 1980, he was transferred from the temporary list to full retirement, having served a total of forty years and eight months, a career covering six decades, from the 30's to the 80's and progressing through the pay grades of apprentice seaman to Rear Admiral. Upon retirement from the Navy, Admiral Price served on several boards including Chairman of the Coronado Recreation Committee; Chairman of the Finance Commitee and Board Member of the Girl Scouts SD Imperial Council from whom he received the "Thanks Badge", the highest award granted to an adult volunteer. Admiral Price was also a member of the committee and task group involved in developing the Girl Scout Property, Camp Winacka, in Julian, CA; member of Adult Protective Services and of United Way. He was a life member of the Friends of the Library and for ten years, enjoyed his job as one of the cashiers at the Annual Book Fair. Admiral Price also enjoyed the companionship of Friends in the Rest and Relaxation Group; the Wednesday La Jolla Men's Group; the "Friday Lunch" bunch and several golf groups. Art never lost his zest for travel and he and his wife Peggy enjoyed trips to many different parts of the world. In particular, they enjoyed hiking and bicycling through France and the British Isles; and treking in Nepal. They also enjoyed cruises, particularly when their children and grandchildren joined them. Admiral Price is survived by his wife, Peggy Wynn; sons John and Arthur Wynn (Betsy) of San Diego; Robert of Coronado; James (Mary Clark) of Madison, WI; daughters Carolyn of Coronado and Mary Helen Boyd (Michael) of Westminster; grandchildren Aaron, Megan, Sara, Jesse and Martha Price; Michael and William Boyd; cousins Jack Breazeale (Shirley) of Easton, MD and David Breazeale (Ellen) of Novato, CA. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Coronado, Ca. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Coronado Hospital Foundation, Sharp Hospice Care, Girl Scouts San Diego Imperial Council, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Coronado, Ca. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com