Arthur Thomas Ireland

IRELAND - Arthur ("Art") T. Ireland, 83, passed away on September 15, 2008 with his loving family at his side. Art was born to Glen and Hattie Ireland on February 28, 1925 in Miles City, Montana. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and soon after met Barbara Funkhouser. She was 14 years old and Art was taken in by her beauty and spirit. He courted her through letters overseas and they married on June 6, 1947 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Art and Barbara raised three children together. They spent 61 years happily married and as observed by those around them, developed a greater respect for each other with every passing year. He served in the U.S. Navy Air Corp in World War II as a gunner in torpedo bombers in the Pacific battles of Okinawa, Iwo Jima and the Battle of the Coral Sea. After Art's service in the military, he had a very successful career as a Locomotive Engineer on the Milwaukee Railroad and as a Safety Inspector for the Federal Railroad Administration, D.O.T. Those who had the privilege of knowing Art, would describe him as kind, hard-working and always willing to help others. He is survived by his wife and best friend, Barbara; daughter, Cyndee O'Hara; daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Lee Maxwell; son, Todd Ireland; mother-in-law, Bess Funkhouser; and brother-in-law, Paul Funkhouser. He was known as "Papa" to his five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He is further survived by his siblings: sister and brother-in-law, Harriett and Winfred Polzin; brother and sister-in-law, Glen and Gwen Ireland; brother and sister-in-law, William and June Ireland; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Shriners Transportation Fund or the Shriners Children's Hospital, c/o Ballut Abyad Shrine Center, 6600 Zuni S.E., Albuquerque, NM, 87108. Funeral services have been entrusted to:
Daniels Family Funeral Services
7601 Wyoming Blvd, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 821-0010