Arthur Ronald Oatley

Arthur Ronald Oatley, born in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 11, 1933. He was the eldest son of Arthur F. Oatley and Alberta M. (Fisher) Oatley.  Arthur departed this earthly life on Sunday, August 28, 2022 in the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Fayetteville, NC.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary (McKenzie), and 3 sons: Robert Charles Oatley, Douglas Arthur Oatley, and Ronald William Oatley, as well as his brother, Donald Oatley and sister, Alberta (Oatley) Bargo.

Art (“Artie” as his siblings called him) leaves behind 2 daughters, Vicki James of Suffolk, VA and Mary Chaisson and her husband, Paul, of Durham, NC.  He also leaves behind his sister, Arlene Bass of Cincinnati, OH and his brother and his wife, Al and Gene Oatley of Georgetown, OH.  Known as Pappaw to his grandchildren, Jesse James (Angie) of Virginia Beach, VA, Heather James of Chesapeake, VA, Paul Chaisson of Dover, DE, Sarah Chaisson of Durham, NC, Anthony Chaisson of Durham, NC and Daniel Chaisson (USAF) currently residing in Illinois, and 2 step grandchildren, Caleb Davis and Sabrina Davis of NC.  In addition, Art leaves behind 5 great grandchildren: Chase James, Julia Garcia, Christina Garcia, Ty James and Reighan Simons, all of Virginia, as well as several nieces and nephews all over the US.  Not to mention several friends of his children who became family over time.  Most notably but not exclusively, Chuck Ferguson and family and Mickey Humble and his wife and children, Faith Lerch and her son Matthew Hughes. He was “Dad” or “Pop” to them in so many ways.

Art was retired from the US Navy, having served from 1951 to his retirement from active duty in 1970.  Art had many stories he shared from his travels around the world and proudly served a tour of duty in Vietnam.

He very much loved his family, bowling, fishing, history, music and his faith families and friends both at Grace Baptist Church, Randleman, NC and Maranatha Baptist Church, Dover, DE.  Art embraced his retirement staying active with church outings and thoroughly enjoyed serving on several mission trips and community ministries, as well as helping with the youth program in Delaware.  He also enjoyed his Krispy Kreme doughnuts and HOT coffee.  Those were guaranteed to bring a huge smile to his face!

The service for Art will be held September 1st at 2:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home in Randleman, NC with private family time prior to the service.  Pastor Marvin Patterson with Grace Baptist Church will provide the message.  Another service with military honors will be held Friday, September 9, 2022 at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel in Millsboro, DE where he will be laid to rest with his wife and son Douglas.  Pastor Lance Wager with Maranatha Baptist will be with the family at the cemetery chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in his memory to churches or organizations of your choice.

With sadness as well as joy in Art’s reunion with loved ones, we truly enjoyed his spirit of faith and hope in his almost 89 years of life.  We pray he was a light and promise of a better tomorrow to all that knew him.