Arthur W. Strople died at Ormond Memorial Hospital in Florida. He was 81.

He was born in Middleboro to Arthur W. Strople Sr. and Mary Ethel (Leete) Strople on August 1, 1929. After two years in the military from 1951 to 1953, he married the former Charlotte Leonard. They moved to the Vineyard in 1962 and purchased the house on Daggett avenue where they brought up their children. Arthur was a house painter for many years and after retiring from painting he became a caretaker for several properties and cared for them as though they were his own.

He was predeceased by his mother, father, brothers, Fred and Marshall, sister, Josephine, and his son, Leonard. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte; daughter Paula and her husband, Patrick Ryer; son Donald and companion, Georgette Lavergne; son Paul and companion, Sandra Ferreira; son Arthur 3rd and companion, Linda Wallace; and daughter Rosemary and husband, Timothy Keiffer. He also left eight grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

With the much-appreciated help of his sister in law, Ida Churchill, his wife was able to keep Arthur at home in Port Orange, Fla., for a couple of months before he had to go into hospice care in Port Orange and then the Veterans’ Care Center in Ormond. Arthur will be greatly missed by his family and friends he made during his lifetime.

A memorial service will be scheduled on the Vineyard sometime in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to a cancer foundation would be appreciated.