CARIBOU – Arthur S. Holdsworth, 83, well-known area potato grower and civic leader died July 22, 2005, at Caribou. He was born Dec. 11, 1921, in Foster, R.I., the son of Arthur O. and Margaret (Hanscom) Holdsworth. During his childhood, Art was raised on the family dairy farm in Foster. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1943 with a bachelor of science degree in Chemistry and Agriculture Sciences. He was a member of the aviation cadet program at URI and served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1945, receiving his commissioning as a naval aviator in August 1945. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Naval Reserve Dec. 22, 1945, at the end of World War II. He continued to be a member of the Reserve Officers Association for many years. He married his first wife, Joyce (Wright) Holdsworth, in 1945 and they had one daughter, Jane. He was elected to the Rhode Island State Legislature in 1948 and served for one year before moving to Caribou in 1949. Upon arriving in Caribou, he got back to his farming roots, and began growing potatoes with his father-in-law, Millard. He also worked for a time selling Fusarex, an agricultural chemical for Sterwin Chemical Inc. Art married his second wife, Betty (Whitmore) Holdsworth, in 1972 and they had one son, Ghent. Art was very active in the agricultural community in Aroostook County. He was a member of the Maine Farm Bureau and served on its potato marketing committee. Art served as a director for the Colby Cooperative Starch Co from 1966-1986 and served as its President from 1975-1985. He was also a director for Maine Potato Growers Inc. from 1978-1987. In 1986, Art was awarded the Robert E. Evans Memorial Outstanding Citizen Award by the Aroostook County Extension. He was also awarded the McCain Foods top ten grower in 1986. Art truly loved farming and did not mind the long hours in the field. Farming was a family affair with both his children and stepchildren spending countless hours working with him in the fields. The last 10 years of his farming career were spent alongside his son, Ghent. Art’s only true regret was that he had to discontinue his farming operation in 2001 after more than 50 years. Art was also active in his community, serving on the Caribou Budget committee in the 1960’s and as a member of the Caribou Urban Renewal authority. He was an active member of the Caribou Lions Club from the 1970’s through the 1980’s where he served a club treasurer. Art served on the Caribou City Council from 1989-1991. Surviving in addition to his second wife, Betty, of Caribou; are his son, Ghent Holdsworth II and his wife, Robyn, of Caribou; his stepsons, Greg Thompson and his wife, Melissa, of Washburn, Anthony Thompson, Jay Thompson and his wife, Shelly, all of Caribou; his stepdaughters, Belinda Hunt and her husband, Jim, of Fort Edward, N.Y. Sandy Ramsay and her husband, Bert, of Westover, Md., his first wife, Joyce, of Caribou; one brother, John Holdsworth of Foster, R.I.; his grandchildren, Branden, Colby, and Ethan Holdsworth, Edmund “Ted” and Francis “Mico” McGuire, Mallory Thompson, Shelley and Andy Thompson, Tina Harris, Kristina Burnham, and Anthony Thompson; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Mr. Holdsworth was predeceased by his parents; his daughter, Jane Holdsworth and her husband, Frank McGuire; a brother, Harold; a sister, Margaret “Peg”. Friends may call Sunday 7-9 p.m. at the Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir St., Caribou, and from 12 until the time of the services at 1 p.m. Monday July 25, 2005, at the Mockler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Matthew Maxwell officiating. Interment will be in the Greenridge Cemetery. Friends who wish to contribute in memory of Mr. Holdsworth may do so through a memorial in his memory planed for Teague Park.
ARTHUR HOLDSWORTH
