THUNDERBOLT, GEORGIA - Arthur “Art” Lyle Anthony, 86, of Thunderbolt, Georgia, husband of Elease Purcell Anthony, died Thursday evening, December 31, 2009, at Riverview Health and Rehabilitation Center under the care of Odyssey Hospice.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, he was a son of the late Lyle Anthony and the late Winifred Grimes Anthony. Mr. Anthony was a charter member of First Free Will Baptist Church where he served as a former Trustee, Treasurer, Sunday school superintendent and Deacon. He retired after 40 years of service as a switch foreman for Southern Railroad. He was a United States Army veteran having served during World War II. Mr. Anthony loved gardening and after most days at work he would spend time afterwards working at his church.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Elease Purcell Anthony of Thunderbolt, Georgia; one daughter, Linda Anthony Lee of Pembroke, Georgia; one son, Wayne A. Anthony and his wife, Faye, of Thunderbolt, Georgia; three grandchildren, Deryle Thomas Lee and his wife, Christie, Gina Lee Futch, and Jennifer Marie Anthony and her husband, Steven Blitch; one sister, Lois DuPree and her husband, Carl, of Frankfort, Indiana, and one brother, Stanley Anthony and his wife, Marilyn, of Chicago, Illinois.

The family will receive friends from 10:30 until 12 o'clock Wednesday morning at First Free Will Baptist Church.

The funeral service will be held at 12 noon Wednesday in the First Free Will Baptist Church conducted by The Reverend Michael Locklear and The Reverend Henry J. Van Kluyve. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.

Remembrances:  The Multimedia System Fund at First Free Will Baptist Church – 5210 Skidaway Road, Savannah, Georgia 31404.