Arthur E. Batson, Jr., age 73 years, formerly of Brockton, died on November 10, 2007, at the V.A. Hospital in Long Beach, CA after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the loving father of Michael A. Batson and his wife Laura of Lusby, Maryland, and Jilleen M. Erickson and her husband Kraig of Indian Rocks Beach, Florida and cherished grandfather of Lindsay, Daniel, Ashley, David, Brandon, Blake and Logan. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews and his former wife, Marylou (Sproul) Hansen of New Bern, NC, with whom he shared a long friendship. He was predeceased by his parents, Arthur E. Batson, Sr., and Marietta (Lombardi) Batson.
Arthur graduated from Brockton High School in 1953. After graduation he served four years in the U.S. Coast Guard and is a Korean War Veteran. He began his career with the Shipbuilders Union in 1959 as an electrician at General Dynamics in Quincy. He became Shop Steward and was elected Local Union #5 President in 1970.Two contentious strikes ensued while he was the Local Union President. He led the shipyard workers through their toughest years and also championed worker safety in the shipyard. He negotiated the merger agreement between the Shipbuilders Union and The International Association of Machinist (I.A.M.). The Shipbuilders Union continues their proud legacy as District 4 of the I.A.M. In 1975 he was appointed Vice President/Secretary-Treasurer, of the National Union in Washington, D.C. and moved to Maryland with his family. He was re-elected to this position until 1982 when he was elected President, IUMSWA, and held that position until 1994 when he retired and moved to California.
Visiting hours will be held 3-7 pm on Sunday, November 18th, at the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton, MA. Funeral from the Conley Funeral Home Monday, November 19th, at 8 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at Christ the King Parish/St. Colman Church , 42 Wendell Avenue, Brockton, MA at 9 AM. Burial with military honors will be in Calvary Cemetery, N. Cary Street, Brockton, MA.