Remembering the life of Arthur Sprague Jr. (2024)

Methuen - Arthur Bryant Sprague Jr., 95, son of the late Arthur and (Flora) Ellen Sprague, died on October 29, 2023, surrounded by his family at the High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill, MA. Arthur was born and raised in South Weymouth, MA and graduated from Weymouth High School in 1946.
Starting at the age of 10, Arthur spent his summers helping his uncles at the Suffolks Downs horse racetrack. After graduating from high school, he continued working in the horse race organization, traveling from New York to Florida pursuing his dreams of becoming a horse trainer. During the summer of 1947, while he was working at the Rockingham Racetrack in Salem, NH he went to Canobie Lake Park on a blind date with his future wife, Barbara. In 1950, Arthur was drafted into the Army for the Korean War, attending the Communication School in Fort Dix, New Jersey where he became a Communication Chief of a line battery. During this time, Arthur married his love, Barbara A. Harrington, on June 7th, 1952. After two years of service, they moved to South Weymouth while he attended Northeastern University and graduated in 1958 with bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He was a member of the Beta Gamma Epsilon Fraternity. Arthur's last co-op position while at Northeastern was at Raytheon and after graduation, continued with the company for 32 more years, retiring in 1990 as a manager of the Patriot missile test systems and supervised the international installation of the missile systems.
Arthur enjoyed many hobbies and started golfing as a teenager which he continued into his 90's, and loved fishing and learned to fly fish in his 70's. Arthur was an avid reader, loved history, and spent hours doing Sudoku to keep his mind young. He loved music and dancing, and you could always find him on the dance floor at any celebration. He was especially fond of traveling whether it was short trips to Cape Cod, spending the winter in Florida, traveling through Europe, or taking months to travel across the country. He loved adventure and encouraged his family to follow his lead to live a great life.
Arthur viewed his family as his greatest accomplishments in life. He was proud of his children and extended this same pride to his grandchildren.Arthur was a man that listened as well as gave great advice, was always ready with a smile and a laugh or a "keep your chin up" comment when encouragement was needed.
Arthur is predeceased by his wife Barbara of 40 years, his sister, A. Elizabeth and brother in-law George Studley, his sister Thelma and brother in-law Joseph Currier, and his brother, W. Robert Sprague. He was also predeceased by his partner of 18 years, Dorothy Hayes. He is survived by his brother, William and his wife Linda and his sister-in-law Miriam Sprague. He is survived by his seven children, daughters Deborah and her husband George Burley, Cheryl and her husband Robert Carver, and Sandra Sprague and her husband Corey Francis, and his sons, James and his wife Carolyn, Glenn and his wife Deborah MaueSprague, Scott and his partner Mimi Sirivong, and Eric and his wife, Jennifer, as well as his grandchildren Abbie, Joshua, Justin, Casey, Andrew, Jonathan, Brendan, Michael, Malinda, Alisa, Courtney, Christopher, Haley, Nathan, Bradley, and Matthew. He is also survived by many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at https://www.thoroughbredaftercare.org/thoroughbred-retirement-foundation.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend calling hours on Friday, November 10, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley Street, Methuen. A funeral service will follow in the funeral home chapel at 12 p.m. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery, Methuen.

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Published on November 6, 2023