Dr. Arthur James Coutu

Dr. Arthur James Coutu, 87, of Morganton died Wednesday, April 4, 2012. Born on September 14, 1924 in Hartford, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Arthur V. and Mary M. Coutu. His wife, Jean Marie died on March 23, 2005 in Morganton, NC. His son Jeffrey Coutu and wife, Jessica, of Mount Airy, NC and his son, Stephen Coutu and wife A. J. of Morganton, NC survive Arthur. He also leaves grandchildren: Angela and husband Terry Woodard of Clayton, NC; Dr. Ashley Coutu of York, England; Kelly Coutu and wife, Amanda, and Davin Coutu all of Wilmington, NC.Arthur served in the U.S. Marine Corp from 1943-1946. He attended Harvard, in Cambridge Mass., Duke University in Durham, NC and received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Connecticut and his PhD from NC State University.He served as a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at NCSU for 38 years. He devoted over 25 years to the area of economic development with 15 years focused on Peru in the areas of institutional and human resource development. He worked in over 20 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa. From 1963 to 1966

Dr. Coutu was head of the NCSU Mission to Peru. In 1965, he was named a visiting professor of The National Agrarian University in Lima, Peru. In 1989 he received the Order of Merit from the President of Peru on behalf of their government. He continued to consult and teach in the areas of economic development after he retired in 1991.Arthur played basketball for the University of Connecticut and the Marines, coached little league baseball in Raleigh, and pitched and played several positions for a local baseball team in Lima, Peru. His lifelong love of golf was well known, as was his unique swing. Arthur’s card playing skills were enjoyed throughout his stint in the Marines, during his foreign travels and more recently by his persevering home health workers.In 2002, Arthur and his wife Jean moved from Raleigh to Morganton, NC with their beloved Cocker-Spaniel, Charlie. They belonged to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Morganton, NC where the funeral mass will be held for Arthur at noon, Tuesday, April 10th . A reception will follow in the church hall.The family wishes to thank all those who loved and cared for Jean and Arthur throughout their adventurous life. In Lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to the outreach programs of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 728 West Union Street, Morganton, NC 28655. Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center assisted the family with the arrangements.