Donald Thomas Arboe

Don passed away peacefully in his home on April 2, 2025, on Hilton Head Island, SC. He was 96. He was born in Brookfield, IL, to William T and Mabel E Arboe. He graduated from Riverside-Brookfield High School in Brookfield. IL, and attended North Central College in Naperville, IL, on a basketball scholarship. He graduated with a BS in Mathematics and PE in 1952.

He met Mary Ellen Finnell on a blind date and they married on May 11, 1957. They were married almost 68 years. They lived in LaGrange, IL, where Don was employed by Western Electric and their first child was born. He was transferred to New York to the Graduate Engineering Program where two additional children were born. They returned to LaGrange and 5 years later were transferred to St Louis, MO, where they lived until he retired after 38 years in Financial Services Management with Lucent Technologies.

Don loved basketball! He played in high school, college, AAU and in a Western Electric league. He was known as “buckets” Arboe. His basketball knowledge eventually led him to become a high school basketball referee. He was also an avid tennis player in high school and college and played for a local club in the St. Louis area.

In 1987 they moved to Hilton Head Island where tennis was his game. He captained and played on numerous USTA tennis teams that went to state tournaments, and he won many local Billy Bob Century Cup titles. He was a past president of TAHHI and served as a commissioner of Broad Creek PSD. His love of Math and helping people led him to being in charge of the AARP Tax Aide Program for 20 years.

Don was the beloved husband of Mary Ellen and proud father of daughter Cindy Docking (Griff) of Overland Park, KS; son Tom Arboe of Unionville, CT; and daughter Sherry Hughes (Darrel) of Wellsville, KS. He was an adoring grandfather to Tyler Docking (Maggie); Emily Hess (Zach); Thomas Arboe; Andrew Arboe; Spencer Plush (Elle) and four great-grandchildren Elyse and Brady Docking, Harper and Walker Hess. He was in preceded death by his parents and brother Ralph Arboe.

A Celebration of Life and reception will take place on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Jimmy Valvano V Foundation for Cancer Research. www.v.org

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