Alfred B. Arruda

Middletown, RI - Alfred B. Arruda, 88, of 1 Thelma Lane Middletown, died Monday, February 21, 2005 at Sakonnet Bay Manor in Tiverton, RI.He was the husband of the late Thelma E. Smith Arruda. Born in Newport, RI on July 15, 1916, he was the son of the late John Botelho and Mary Dutra Arruda. Mr. Arruda attended Rogers High School in Newport, RI. He was a Business Agent with Labor Local 673 of which he was a charter member, and a member of the Local all his life. He served in a variety of capacities in the Labor Movement that included Delegate to the Newport County Central Labor Council and was Trustee of the RI Health and Welfare Pension Fund. Mr. Arruda also served as President of the RI General Council of the Laborers International Union. He was on the Board of Trustees for Newport Hospital, on the Middletown Sewage Commission in addition to several other state and local commissions and committees. Mr. Arruda was a member of the Middletown Democratic Town Committee, was a member of the Newport Lodge of Elks, the Middletown Knights of Columbus 4203, the Vasco de Gama, and the Seven Castles Club.Around town, he was known as a ?gentleman farmer? for his kind demeanor and approach to his work on his farm. He is survived by his daughter Barbara Arndt of Laguna Niguel, CA, two sisters Helen Lawrence and Dorothy Carpenter both of Middletown, RI, five grandchildren Anthony Rego of Tiverton, RI, Lisa Rego of Portsmouth, RI, Jennifer Joslyn of Middletown, RI, Kyle Arndt of Los Angeles, CA, and Laurie Munroe of Tiverton, RI, and five great grandchildren. He was the father of the late Janet Rego and Alfred Arruda and brother of the late John and Frank Arruda.His funeral will be held on Friday, February 25, 2005, at 9:00 AM from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI, with a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00 AM in Jesus Saviour Church, Broadway And Vernon Avenue, Newport, RI. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown, RI.