Archie William Chambers

Newport, RI - Archie William Chambers, 89, of 64 Harrison Avenue, Newport, RI, died Monday, September 28, 2009 at Village House Convalescent Home, with his beloved wife, Bet by his side.He was the husband of Elizabeth Betty Matter Chambers. Born in Council Hill, OK on January 16, 1920, he was the son of the late Dixon and Millie Lee Self Chambers.Mr. Chambers family moved to Colorado in 1931. After graduating from Fruita Union High School in 1938 and Mesa Jr. College in Grand Junction, CO in 1940, he joined the US Navy in August of 1940. After training in San Diego, CA, he graduated as a radioman. He served on the heavy cruiser the USS Augusta based in Vallejo, CA. Within two weeks the ship transferred to the East Coast via the Panama Canal. The ship was then based primarily in Newport, RI. He served in the invasion of No. Africa and the Battle of Casa Blanca. His ship was attacked while on convoy duty in the Atlantic. The USS Augusta was the flag ship on which President F. D. Roosevelt met with Prime Minister Winston Churchill for war stragedy.Mr. Chambers received a medical discharge in 1943. He worked at the Newport US Naval Base in various positions. In the early 1960s he earned his degree in accounting and worked as an auditor for the Naval Education Center in Newport. Including his active service, he served in the USN for a total of 38 years before his retirement in June of 1983. Mr. Chambers was a long time member of Trinity Church where for many years he served as the church auditor, as an usher and as the assistant treasure. He was a member of the American Legion Newport Post No.7 where he served as the finance officer for 30 years. He was a member of AARP, the Edward King House Senior Center, the Middletown Senior Center and the Portsmouth Senior Center. He and his wife Betty enjoyed many years dancing and were members of Friends of Ballroom Dancing. He was an avid bowler and belonged to the Auto League and the NETC League. He also belonged to the Island Seniors Ten Pin League. Even though he was a native mid-westerner he was a life long fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. In addition to his wife of 67 years, he is survived by two daughters; Cheryl Woodbury and her husband Glenn of Warwick, RI and Nancy Davey of Wakefield, RI, seven grandchildren, Debbie Quiton, Dawne Smart, Catherine Mosher, Michael Woodbury, Matthew Woodbury, Sean Davey and Patrick Davey, ten great grandchildren and two step great grandchildren, and a niece.He was the father of Archie William, Jr. and the brother of Flora VanAntwerp who predeceased him.He was a kind and gentle man. His funeral will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2009, at 12:30 pm in Trinity Church, Queen Anne Square, Newport.Burial will be in St. Marys Churchyard in Portsmouth.Calling hours will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2009, from 4-7pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Church, Queen Anne Square, Newport, RI 02840.