In Memoriam: Arthur Leisk Stubbs

Art Stubbs was born July 27, 1917, in Ontario, Canada, and died Oct. 6, 2002, in Portland, Oregon. Art grew up in St. Clair, Michigan, and after high school began his career with Great Lakes Steamships. He became its youngest licensed operating engineer. In 1943 he married his wife of 59 years Eleanor. During World War II he was a Coast Guard Ensign in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He later joined the US Postal Service and was a letter carrier for twenty years in California and Portland, Oregon.

Art and Eleanor owned and operated Stubbs Shrubs, growing evergreen azaleas in the Willamette area of West Linn. Besides membership in the ARS, Art was a member of the Azalea Society of America and the Oregon Association of Nurserymen.

Art was an active member of the Portland Chapter. He served several terms as a chapter board member and volunteered his time and talents at the Crystal Springs Garden. He especially enjoyed his trips to hunt for new varieties of Rhododendron occidentale along the southern Oregon Coast. He and Eleanor traveled to many of the overseas tours and meetings where they enthusiastically cultivated friendships throughout the rhododendron world. His gregarious nature and efforts brought many new members to the ARS. One could always find Art talking to prospective members at chapter meetings. His love of people and plants will be missed.