Arthur Willis Hartman, 86, of Galena died Dec. 24, 2015, at Cox Medical Center in Branson. As a young man, Mr. Hartman was a steamfitter and was the owner of two auto parts stores. He became a YMCA scuba instructor, assisting area law enforcement agencies with underwater search and recovery, and owned and operated two dive shops in the St. Louis area. He moved to the Florida Keys in 1966, where he operated ARTO (Atlantic Research and Technology of Oceanography) and traveled the globe as an underwater archaeologist. He was born Feb. 15, 1929, in St. Louis, the son of the late Arthur Joseph Hartman and Bessie Lee (Hodge) Hartman Lucas.
He is survived by his wife: Paula (Harvey) Hartman; a son: Arthur J. (Judith Stewart) Hartman of Corona, Calif.; a daughter: Kathleen (Bill) Stephenson of St. Louis; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his stepfather: Ralph Lucas; two daughters: Darlene (the late Phil) Revel and Patricia (the late Don) Goddard; and a brother: Clifford J. Lucas.
Funeral services were held Jan. 5 at Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus. Burial was in the Lebanon Baptist Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children. Arrangements were under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.