Obituaries

NATHAN WHITAKER (Nate) JAMES died on May 19, 2004, at his home in Brighton Gardens in Mountainside, N.J. He was director of public relations for the central railroad of New Jersey during his 35-year career with the company, and served with a variety of industry-related association.

He was a graduate of Plainfield (N.J.) High School and the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., before matriculating at Wesleyan.

Born and raised in Plainfield, he married Dorothy Jane Laffey of Short Hills in 1941, and lived in Westfield for 46 years before moving to Mountainside seven years ago. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2001, a month before Dorothy succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. James family records indicate that Nate was an 11th generation descendant of Roger Williams and was also descended from Abraham Whitaker, another 17th century immigrant who settled in Rehoboth, Mass.

Surviving are his son, John W. James and daughter-in-law, Loretta, of Madison, Conn., and four beloved grandchildren, John W. Jr., Laurissa, Corinne, and Randy.

Nate enjoyed generally good health right through his last days with us. He was an active volunteer for numerous charitable and community service organizations, including especially the Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside and the Central Railroad of New Jersey Veterans Association. He had an untiring zest for life and was totally devoted to his family and the exploits of his grandchildren. When his grandson Randy came east last fall with his newly acquired pilot’s license, it was Nate in the cockpit of the Cessna 172 taking off from the airfield in Chester, Conn. He will be missed by many. Memorial contributions may be made to the Children’s Specialized Hospital 150 Providence Road, Mountainside, NJ 07092-2590.

LOUIS B. JACOBSON, a retired building contractor, died Mar. 2, 2011, at age 95. During his U.S. Army service in World War II, he met soprano Jane Shelby, who became his wife and who predeceased him in 2005. He is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

CARL E. HULTINE, an insurance agent and the owner of the J.B. Watson Insurance Agency, died Oct. 8, 2006, at age 90. A cousin of the late John I. Olson Jr. ’45, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He was predeceased by his wife, Doris Mahoney Hultine. Survivors include two children; two grandchildren; a brother, John I. Hultine ’44; and a nephew, Michael Olson ’09.

ARCHIE A. HORNE, a New Hampshire store owner and former professional baseball player, died Apr. 5, 2003. He was 88. He was a member of Psi Upsilon and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Before entering the service he played with the St. Louis Cardinals and later continued to play with local teams. He was a municipal court judge for 18 years. Predeceased by his wife, Eleanor Dutton Horne, survivors include a daughter, two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a brother.

WILLIAM B. FABER, a retired television executive, died Feb. 10, 2003 at age 86. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he received a law degree from LaSalle University. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1954 he joined WFLA in Tampa, Fla., eventually becoming president and chief executive. He later became president and chief operating officer of Tampa Television, Inc., which became Media General Broadcast Group. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Outerbridge Faber, three daughters, eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a sister.

MURDO M. DOWDS, a retired sales executive, died Nov. 24, 2005. He was 88. A member of Sigma Chi, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Predeceased by his wife, Barbara Whitney Dowds, among those who survive are three sons, including Murdo M. Dowds Jr. ’67, one daughter, six grandchildren, and two brothers.

WALTER V. BENNETT JR., 85, who was associated with the General Electric Corporation for 34 years, and who was a dedicated class secretary, died July 27, 2003. He was a member of Psi Upsilon and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After working as a reporter and publicist, he joined General Electric, from which he retired as a group manager of press and public relations. He continued to volunteer in his community. Predeceased by a son, he is survived by his wife, Joy Post Bennett, three daughters (including Grace Bennett, who wrote his quarterly column of class notes and was made an honorary member of the class), two sons, six grandchildren, and a sister.

WARREN M. ASHTON, the retired president of Ashton Oil Service, Inc., died June 19, 2003. He was 88. A member of the John Wesley Club, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Survivors include his wife, Laurmmme.

ARTHUR F. WELD JR., a retired professor at Michigan State University, died Dec. 1, 2002. He was 87. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he received his degree with high honors and high distinction in Romance languages. He received a master’s degree from Princeton University. A member of Alpha Chi Rho, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was the brother of the late Richard P. Weld ’39 and the uncle of the late Ralph F. Weld of the class of 1913. After teaching at Syracuse University, where he established the first university-operated on-air television studio, he later became a professor at Michigan State, where he taught film history and radio and television production in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. He also had served on the board of directors of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters. His wife, Bettina Frohlich Weld, survives.

ALVIN von AUW, 95, who retired as vice president and assistant to the chairman of AT&T after a 43-year career with the Bell System, died Nov. 4, 2011. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in English and Art. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and in 1938 received a master’s degree from Wesleyan. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy, after which he rejoined Western Electric, where he later became director of public relations. In 1969 he joined AT&T, retiring in 1981. When he retired, he left 50 notebooks of writings reflecting on issues and articulating policies for the Bell System. In the final years of his tenure with AT&T, he witnessed and participated in the dismantling of the Bell System in accordance with the decision of the Department of Justice. When he retired he undertook to record and analyze, from his unique perspective, the transformation of what had been the world’s largest company. His account of this important passage in the history of the telecommunications industry, Heritage and Destiny, was published in 1983. His wife, Eleanor Flagg von Auw, predeceased him. Survivors include his daughter, a sister, and several nieces and nephews.