HOULTON – Arthur Otis Putnam Jr., 85, died Oct. 7, 2007, at his residence. He was born Jan. 15, 1922, in Houlton, the son of Arthur Otis and Claire (Pearce) Putnam. Otis was a graduate of Ricker Classical Institute and attended Ricker and Bowdoin colleges, until his enlistment in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served with the 692nd Field Artillery Battalion, Battery B. Upon returning from the War, Otis joined Putnam Brothers Co., later serving many years as president. He was past president of HRDC and the Houlton Rotary Club, where he was the oldest continuous service rotarian, 56 years, he was the father of the Rotary Radio Auction. He was recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, and was general chairman of the Houlton Sesquicentennial in 1957. He served on the board of trustees for Ricker College and the Ricker Scholarship Fund and the Houlton Fair Association. Otis is survived by three children, Keaton Putnam Ells and her husband, Stephen, of Hampton, N.H., Christian Taggett Putnam of Houlton, Kimball Temple Putnam and his wife, Lauri, of Windham, N.H.; six grandchildren, Kendall Elizabeth Ells, Ian Robert Ells, Jared Putnam Boyle, Lindsay Putnam Boyle, Colby Dunn Putnam and Clairee Dee Putnam; his brother, Mellen Pearce Putnam of Houlton; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Lona Taggett Putnam; his daughter, Adrian Putnam Boyle; two sisters, Hannah Burbank and Isabel Ross; and one brother, Joseph Putnam. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Friday at Dunn Funeral Home, where funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday with Leigh Cummings and the Rev. Randall Burns officiating. Interment will be at Houlton Evergreen Cemetery. Gifts may be made in Otis’s memory to Hospice of Aroostook, Houlton Rotary Club or the Performing Arts Center, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730.
ARTHUR OTIS PUTNAM JR.
