Obituary of Anita Louise Jacobson Arthur

Anita Louise Arthur passed away peacefully in her beloved Capitola home on Soquel Creek with her family by her side after a brief illness at age 88. Anita's parents had moved to Houston, Texas, where she was born, and when Anita was an infant, she and her mother, Grace, returned to San Jose. Grace married Carl E. Jacobson and her sister, Helen, was born. Growing up in San Jose, Anita attended local schools and in 1936 Anita met the love of her life, Dick Arthur, at Herbert Hoover Junior High. After graduating from San Jose High in 1943 she entered the US Cadet Nurse Corps and attended San Jose State College (now University) in 1944. Anita and Dick were married at the First Methodist Church in San Jose in 1945 with Anita wearing her beautiful wedding dress and Dick in his Marine uniform. They honeymooned at the family cabin on the creek in Capitola. Anita and Dick celebrated their Sixty-Ninth wedding anniversary this past summer. Three boys and one daughter were born to the couple in the Willow Glen area of San Jose. While raising their family, Anita volunteered for various organizations and was a founding member of Family Service Auxiliary, a founding member of Goodwill Auxiliary, a Boy Scout Den Mother and a PTA and room mother at Schallenberger Elementary School. Anita belonged to the Junior League of San Jose where she was honored with the Jr. Chamber of Commerce Award for Young Woman of the Year in 1958. She also received the Civitan Club Distinguished Citizen Award in 1960. These activities continued along with square dancing, bridge parties and family traveling, especially to the cabin in Capitola where the family spent their summers swimming and fishing in the creek and ocean. After moving permanently to Capitola in 1971 Anita enjoyed long walks along the ocean collecting beach glass, knitting beautiful sweaters and afghans and was hostess to their annual Begonia Festival party. She and Dick traveled to many countries including Ireland, England, Europe, Africa, Brazil, Canada, and many parts of the USA. For ten years she worked at the Plum Tree, a local gift shop, while enjoying her grandchildren and teaching them word and card games. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed reading all the best sellers. Anita became a volunteer ESL teacher, joined the ACBL in 1985 and became a Bridge Silver Life Master in 2008. Anita will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She had a wonderful sense of humor and lived life to the fullest with no regrets. Anita is survived by her husband, Dick; sons, Bruce Arthur (Dori) of Capitola, Don Arthur (Lucy) of Santa Cruz, Bill Arthur of San Jose; and daughter, Jennine Sanders (John) of Atascadero. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Matt Arthur (Jill), Abbie Arthur, Laura Arthur (Aaron), Tucker and Trevor Sanders, along with sisters-in-law Rosemarie Arthur, Patricia Arthur; and cousins, nieces and nephews. A private service will be held at the Santa Cruz Memorial Park. Any remembrances can be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066, or Capitola PD K-9 Unit, or your favorite charity.