Arthur Maxwell Bailes
September 25th, 1929 - February 2nd, 2025
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Arthur's Obituary
Arthur Maxwell Bailes, B.E.M, 95, of Galien, Michigan passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at Buchanan Meadows, Buchanan, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma. Survived by their beloved children, Martin (Susan McWilliams), Hilary and Adrian; grandchildren, Max, Alex and Margo; siblings, Micheal (Pauline), Colin (Sheila Lynch) and Celia; nieces, Nicola, Amanda, Jane, Sarah; loved nephews, Josh and Richard; and many loved great-nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1pm on Saturday, February 22, at Swem Chapel, 301 W. Front St., Buchanan. Interment will follow in Galien Cemetery. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.swemchapel.com.
Arthur was born on September 25, 1929, to Richard Hepworth and Kathleen (Wray) Bailes in Durham, England. Arthur met his future wife, Norma Spencer, at the local youth club at the age of 16, and would later marry in 1952, they shared 64 years together. He joined the Army cadets in his last year of Elementary School, “I had a rifle as big as me, I loved it, it was somewhere between the Boy Scouts and Cowboys & Indians”. As a young boy he recounted the dangerous fun he and his friends had looking for shrapnel after Nazi bombing raids close to his home. Joining the military after high school, Arthur was sent to Army Leadership Training in Scotland to study Strategic Deception and Air Photographic Interpretation linked to M16. International intelligence.
In 1949, at the age of 20, Arthur joined the 300-year-old regiment of the Green Howards and was sent to Malaya as Platoon Leader spending three years in the silence of the jungle and trained by Dayak Headhunters from the Island of Borneo, taking part in anti-communist operations by Chinese guerrillas. On his return to England, Arthur and Norma were married and he was then transferred to Military Intelligence (MI6) and the Royal Air Force. He attended Cambridge University in Ministry of Defense Studies, and then he and Norma were transferred to Graz, Austria for four years
In Austria he took part in the U2 Spy Plane Reconnaissance flights over Russia. With the use of 3D instruments, he was one of the first to see Russian and Chinese atom bomb test sites. Arthur took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis, reviewing the U2 images with British Defense in London. At this time, they lived in Brampton, Cambridgeshire and began their lifelong love of renovating old homes. In 1965, Arthur was awarded the B.E.M. (British Empire Medal) from the Queen in recognition of his services. He retired from the services and a new career in the art world began.
Arthur studied at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in Decorative Arts from the Renaissance through the 20th Century, Architecture and Fine Art. He created a business in exporting antiques to the US and Australia. In 1977, they emigrated to Chicago and Arthur continued his profession in Personal Property Appraisals, specifically antiques. Through his prestigious career, he served at Leslie Hindman, Inc., Auctioneers, and First Appraisal Company. He also assisted in many appraisals throughout Museums, Art Institutes and Universities around the country. He served as President of the Oriental Society Chicago, was a member of The Georgian Society London, The Furniture and History Society V&A London, and a charter member of the International Society of Fine Arts Appraisers among many other organizations.
Arthur and his wife retired to Michigan and continued their life of home improvement projects, restoring their 19th century farmhouse, travelling around the world, and enjoying time with their children, grandchildren and friends in the countryside. Over the last 25 years they spent their winters in Mismaloya, Mexico where they developed many wonderful friendships, and was loved & treasured by many. His love of life, music, art, history, renovation, sense of humor, storytelling, character and charm will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1pm on Saturday, February 22, at Swem Chapel, 301 W. Front St., Buchanan. Interment will follow in Galien Cemetery. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.swemchapel.com.
Arthur was born on September 25, 1929, to Richard Hepworth and Kathleen (Wray) Bailes in Durham, England. Arthur met his future wife, Norma Spencer, at the local youth club at the age of 16, and would later marry in 1952, they shared 64 years together. He joined the Army cadets in his last year of Elementary School, “I had a rifle as big as me, I loved it, it was somewhere between the Boy Scouts and Cowboys & Indians”. As a young boy he recounted the dangerous fun he and his friends had looking for shrapnel after Nazi bombing raids close to his home. Joining the military after high school, Arthur was sent to Army Leadership Training in Scotland to study Strategic Deception and Air Photographic Interpretation linked to M16. International intelligence.
In 1949, at the age of 20, Arthur joined the 300-year-old regiment of the Green Howards and was sent to Malaya as Platoon Leader spending three years in the silence of the jungle and trained by Dayak Headhunters from the Island of Borneo, taking part in anti-communist operations by Chinese guerrillas. On his return to England, Arthur and Norma were married and he was then transferred to Military Intelligence (MI6) and the Royal Air Force. He attended Cambridge University in Ministry of Defense Studies, and then he and Norma were transferred to Graz, Austria for four years
In Austria he took part in the U2 Spy Plane Reconnaissance flights over Russia. With the use of 3D instruments, he was one of the first to see Russian and Chinese atom bomb test sites. Arthur took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis, reviewing the U2 images with British Defense in London. At this time, they lived in Brampton, Cambridgeshire and began their lifelong love of renovating old homes. In 1965, Arthur was awarded the B.E.M. (British Empire Medal) from the Queen in recognition of his services. He retired from the services and a new career in the art world began.
Arthur studied at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in Decorative Arts from the Renaissance through the 20th Century, Architecture and Fine Art. He created a business in exporting antiques to the US and Australia. In 1977, they emigrated to Chicago and Arthur continued his profession in Personal Property Appraisals, specifically antiques. Through his prestigious career, he served at Leslie Hindman, Inc., Auctioneers, and First Appraisal Company. He also assisted in many appraisals throughout Museums, Art Institutes and Universities around the country. He served as President of the Oriental Society Chicago, was a member of The Georgian Society London, The Furniture and History Society V&A London, and a charter member of the International Society of Fine Arts Appraisers among many other organizations.
Arthur and his wife retired to Michigan and continued their life of home improvement projects, restoring their 19th century farmhouse, travelling around the world, and enjoying time with their children, grandchildren and friends in the countryside. Over the last 25 years they spent their winters in Mismaloya, Mexico where they developed many wonderful friendships, and was loved & treasured by many. His love of life, music, art, history, renovation, sense of humor, storytelling, character and charm will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
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