Arthur Webb Allison

Arthur W. Allison, Jr., Professional Engineer, of Charleston, SC died on March 17, 2013 and joins Elizabeth Mastin Allison, his wife of 66 years. His funeral services will be held Thursday, March 21, 2013 in First (Scots) Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. Interment, Magnolia Cemetery. The family will receive friends in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL Wednesday between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.

He was born in Albany, Georgia on January 11, 1913, the son of the late Moneta Slaton and Arthur W. Allison. He graduated from Greenville High School and then Clemson College in 1935. At Clemson, he was president of Tau Beta Pi and Commander of the Junior and Senior Platoon. He was a member of Honor Societies Blue Key and Scabbard and Blade. He was also captain of the swimming team, personally set two new state records, and anchored the relay team that set another.

He worked at several paper mills in the South prior to World War II. In January of 1942, he was the General Mechanical Superintendent during the construction of the Huntsville Arsenal, the Redstone Ordinance Plant, and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Allison then was assigned to the Air Force, where he was a member of several crews who flight-tested the Lockheed Constellation. As a Captain in the United States Air Force, he then flew with the Air Transport Command, delivering combat aircraft, mostly B-29s to training centers. He was in the Pacific Theatre when discharged from the service in 1946 and moved to Charleston. He became the Southern representative for a paper machine manufacturer until 1950, when he joined Westvaco and became the Maintenance Superintendent until his retirement in 1978.

After retirement he became a licensed Professional Engineer and worked as a management consultant in Brazil and Argentina over a two-year period, requiring him to be conversational in Portuguese and Spanish.

He was active in the Boy Scouts, serving as chairman of several committees, being a member of the Boys Council, and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. Allison was a member of the First (Scots) Presbyterian Church. While a member, he helped build two Habitat for Humanity houses and delivered Meals on Wheels for 8 years. He was a member of The St. Andrew's Society and a former member of the Carolina Yacht Club. He was also a Mason, affiliated with Helion #1 in Huntsville, Alabama.

Allison was an avid golfer, winning several tournaments, including the Paper Industry Managements Southeastern Annual twice and the Country Club of Charleston once. He has shot his age or better each year since age 69, doing so 122 times in 2001. He has made 4 holes in one, one of which was in a member guest tournament at the Country Club of Charleston.

He is survived by his three sons, Arthur W. Allison III (Kathy) of Silver Spring, MD, Robert M. Allison of San Antonio, TX, Edward S. Allison (Becky) of Fayetteville, NC, and one daughter, Elizabeth A. Lowry of York, SC.

Allison has one surviving brother, John S. Allison (Ann) of Charleston, SC and was preceded in death by both his sister, Moneta Allison Thorpe and his nephew, Joe Morris.

His four grandchildren are Megan Allison Christie (Josh) of Cary, NC, Kayce Allison Schaffer (Ryan) of Herndon, VA, William Bratton Lowry of New York City, and Coleman Fraser Lowry of Charleston. His four great-grandchildren are David Christie, Amy Christie, Ryan Christie and Kyle Schaffer. He is survived by numerous nephews and nieces.

The family wishes to acknowledge and especially thank Carole Marconi who was Mr. Allison's primary caregiver for the past year.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29403.