Arthur Wilson House

Born May 15, 1927, at City Hospital, Seattle Washington, passed August 5, 2026, less than a year shy of 100 years. He so wanted to reach his 100th birthday and receive the letter of congratulations from the President.

Art had a difficult childhood like so many others who lived through the depression, which hit in 1929. His father passed in 1933 leaving his mother, Myrtle; brothers, Melvin, and Gordon and his sister Emeli (Emily) with no means of support. The siblings were placed in an orphanage; baby Gordon was placed with a family.

Thankfully, Mr. William W. House served in the Spanish-American war and soon a small pension meant their mother Myrtle could bring her children home. Life was difficult but having his siblings and mother together was a blessing. Dad told of walking around Seattle with his dad. The face of Seattle had been changing dramatically with the Denny regrade. Seattle was a bustling city despite the depression. Dad worked to help support his family. He had a paper route around Lake Union. Although then the houseboats were not million-dollar floating homes.

Dad and his siblings stayed together until Pearl Harbor. Sister Emily became a WACC, her fiancé joined the Army and Dad went to enlist in the Navy, but due to flat feet he was rejected. Determined to contribute to the war effort, he joined the Merchant Marines, completed training and went to sea. His experiences during the war bringing food and munitions to many fronts were as dangerous and as horrendous as all who fought in WWII.

Because of their sheer numbers and the scale of global supply operations, merchant ships suffered far greater losses in WWII than naval ships. The Battle of the Atlantic alone illustrates this imbalance, with thousands of merchant vessels lost compared to only a few hundred naval vessels. Dad told of battles with the Japanese Zero fighters, huge guns on the merchant ships were manned by soldiers, but when a soldier was wounded, the sailors were trained to take over the guns and shoot down the Zeros.

In May 2022, the U.S. government formally recognized the Merchant Mariners of World War II with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

The award was made possible by the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, passed in 2020, to honor the courage and contributions of merchant seamen during the war.

After the Armistice, Dad stayed on in the Merchant Marines and loved travelling the world. One of his favorite ports was Honduras, with many photos of him and his shipmates in sunny locales of the world.

In 1957 Dad gave up his seafaring life. Possibly because his mother, my Gramma House, who raised me from an infant, was getting a bit old to be caring for a challenging and curious 10-year-old.

Dad did not become a ‘landlubber’ yet though. We lived on several houseboats and boathouses in Sausalito California. We ate like kings, digging for steamer clams nearby, catching fresh salmon, and even shark.

His career was interesting; He worked at the San Francisco Chronical, then as Operations Managers at two hospitals. In between the hospital careers he took a job in Saudi Arabia managing operations at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh until March 25, 1975 when King Faisal was assassinated and all foreigners were sent home.

Missing his life on the water he and a doctor friend started a side career as a co-owner of a fishing trawler Dad named the “Happy Hooker”. He would head out onto the Pacific Ocean for albacore, and large fish. Other trips were to Alaska for different types of Salmon and Halibut.

Eventually Dad retired. He and wife Marlene decided Idaho was the place to be. He became ‘Farmer Art’. He bought a ranchette in Kimberely. Stocked it with goats, chickens, dogs, cats, and even two Parrots. He loved Idaho and never wandered again. His thrills? Out in the desert with friends and family on the ATVs, hanging at home in his hot tub and loving life with his critters.

Dad and Marlene were great supporters of FIDDLERS, INC. Every year the Fiddlers would hold a contest for fiddlers of all ages, but mostly youngsters. We joined to raise funds with garage sales to help the winners go to the Nationals and to assist support the thrilling contest. Many great fiddlers won ribbons, metals and trophies.

In 2016 we made Idaho our last home. We are so blessed to have had these ten years together with Dad, Marlene and friends.

Dad was superseded in death by his wife Marlene House (Dew), Mother, Myrtle House, brothers, Melvin House and Gordon House, and sister Emily Lioi (House). He is survived by daughter, Pamela Fish (House), and step-granddaughter, Ada Quiett (LeFevre).

There will be a Memorial on Sunday, August 23, at 11:00 am at the Wesleyan Holiness Church at 203 Madison Street, Twin Falls, ID 83301

Following the Memorial attendees are welcome to stay for lunch and share anecdotes/memories of Art and his life. 

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Art’s memorial webpage at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com.