Arthur C. Barksdale, 84, of 1120 Market St., Meadville, passed away Saturday, July 19, 2008, at his residence.

Mr. Barksdale was born in Meadville Sept. 20, 1923, one of 14 siblings of the late Zebedee and Fannie Partlow Barksdale.

Arthur married Louise Mitchell Barksdale, who preceded him in death.

On Oct. 1, 1988, Arthur retired from the former Talon Inc. of Meadville with more than 30 years of service.

An active member of St. John’s Full Gospel Missionary Baptist Church, Arthur shared his gift of music in the senior choir under the direction of Macatee Richardson and as a pianist for the alleluia chorus for more than 40 years. Other music associations included Paul Inglefield of Meadville High School; Orville Mosley of Morgan State College, Baltimore; Mr. and Mrs. Ernestine McLaughtin of Greater Baptist Church, Warren, Ohio; Prof. J.T. and Highball and the Madame Hopkins Singers, Cleveland, Ohio; Ruth (Dutchess) Overton, director of the Community Choir, Meadville; and Faye Wallace of the United Mass Choir.

A U.S. Army veteran, Arthur honorably served his country during World War II, serving in the MTOUSA region, 92nd Buffalo Division, 370 Combat Team, 598th LABN, Rome, Arno, Northern Apennines, Po Valley Campaigns. He was the recipient of many medals and awards including three Good Conduct, a Bronze Star, three Service Hash Marks, World War II Victory Medal, European African Eastern Campaign Medal, Signal School of Communications Award and Certificate of Excellence Discharge Status.

In his earlier years Arthur attended Pierson and Neason Hill schools before graduating from Meadville High School in 1942. He went on to further his education at Morgan State, Baltimore, Md.; School of Liberal Arts, Cleveland College, Branch of Western University, Liberal Arts and Wilcox College School of Business Administration, all of Cleveland, Ohio; Warren Business School of Business Machines, School of Nursing Crile Hospital Veteran Administration, Parma, Ohio; and Allegheny College School of Liberal Arts (alumni status), Meadville.

A member of the NAACP, Arthur was a past secretary of Giblim Masonic Lodge 29 and affiliated with Price Masonic Hall.

Arthur is survived by a son, James A. Barksdale and his companion; three grandsons; a granddaughter; 15 great-grandchildren; a host of great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Frances Dickson and her husband, Will, of Meadville; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his wife, Louise, and his parents, Arthur was preceded in death by seven brothers and six sisters.

Family and friends are invited to call Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. John’s Full Gospel Missionary Baptist Church, 792 N. Main St., Meadville, where the funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, with Bishop Stanley K. Smith, pastor, officiating.

Interment will take place in Greendale Cemetery, Meadville.

Arrangements are under the direction of Stephen P. Mizner Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 404 Chestnut St., Meadville.