Arthur Luke Slaughter was born on January 27, 1942, in St. Louis, to Fred Slaughter and Dillie (Trotter Hallie) Slaughter. He had one older half-brother, Octaveous Fred Slaughter.
Arthur was raised in the Ville neighborhood where he attended the St. Louis Public Schools – Cole Elementary School and Charles Sumner High School. He also spent much of his early childhood in the Central West End where his mother was employed.
Arthur accepted Christ at an early age at Washington Tabernacle Baptist Church and he participated in many activities, including the Royal Ambassadors and the Sunday School Department.
While at Sumner, Arthur was a member of the accelerated advisory group. He also was a musician, developing superior skills as a pianist and violinist. Arthur was a member of Sumner’s Swim Team and perfected the butterfly.
Arthur graduated from Sumner in 1959, when the school was at its height in preparing African-American students for positions in scholarship and leadership as the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education decision of 1954 spurred a renewed hope of African Americans gaining equality.
Arthur was enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1960 until 1966. He did a tour of duty during the Vietnam War in Okinawa, where he used his computer training in a special radar unit in Military Intelligence. While in the Marines, Arthur also earned a first-degree black belt in Karate. He received an honorable discharge.
He was employed by IBM, Honeywell, Digital and Blue Cross Blue Shields. Arthur later owed and operated his own business, Woodstock Inc., a supplier of office furniture.
Arthur was a loyal Marine who requested that family members and friends call him Sergeant Slaughter. He was a lifelong member of the Montford Point Marine Association.
Arthur leaves to cherish his memory: one son, Armand (Vanessa) Slaughter; one daughter, Angela (Slaughter) Early; six grandchildren, Anthony Slaughter, Matthew Early, Amanda Early, Michael Early, Malcolm Early, and Janessia Slaughter; four step- grandsons, Demetrius (Tamara) Thomas, Wesley (Mary) Thomas, Antwoine (Kenya) Thomas and Peter Thomas; two cousins, Annie Mae Norman and George Lee, Jr.; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Washington Tabernacle Baptist Church, 3200 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., 63103 or to the Montford Point Marine Association, St. Louis Chapter, Tonychestang@sbcglobel.net.