Obituaries

In 1967, he joined the U.S. Information Agency as a writer-editor. Ten years later, he was commissioned as a Foreign Service officer and served as a publications officer in Lagos, Nigeria, and in Tokyo. At the time of his retirement in 1986, he was chief of the East Asia and Pacific Division of the USIA's press and publication service.

His marriage to Shirley Simpson ended in divorce.

Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Susan Flynt Stirn of Arlington; four children from his first marriage, Michael Stirn of Fredericksburg, William Stirn of Richmond, Katrina Stirn of Arlington and Jean Renoll of Springfield; and three grandchildren.

Henderika Elizabeth ThrasherForeign Service Spouse

Henderika Elizabeth Thrasher, 86, a Foreign Service spouse, homemaker and club member, died of lung cancer May 15 at Fairfax Nursing Center, where she lived.

As the wife of a Foreign Service officer, Mrs. Thrasher lived around the world and learned to entertain in Israel, Laos, Switzerland, Canada and the Philippines. She was a native of Pretoria, South Africa, and met the American who would become her husband while he worked at the U.S. Embassy there. They moved to Washington in the early 1940s.

Mrs. Thrasher was a member of Kenwood Country Club and an accomplished tennis player, once serving as president of the inter-club tennis league. She enjoyed neighborhood book clubs and having tea with friends.

Her husband of 56 years, Edward J. Thrasher, died in 1999.

Survivors include a daughter, Karen Clark of Spotsylvania; a sister; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Arthur Byron WellsCivil Aeronautics Board Official

Arthur Byron Wells, 89, a former official with the Civil Aeronautics Board, died of a heart attack May 15 at his home in Silver Spring.

Mr. Wells was born in Washington and graduated from the former Western High School in 1935. After graduating from Harvard University in 1939, he worked at Riggs Bank for several years.

During World War II, he served with the Army in Europe. After returning to Washington, he worked as an accountant for Washington's old Capital Airlines from 1946 to 1961.

He joined the Civil Aeronautics Board, now part of the Federal Aviation Administration, in 1961 as an air transport examiner. He later worked as an economist with the board and was chief of the routes authority when he retired in 1982. He then was a consultant for several years.

Mr. Wells enjoyed baseball and football and collected jazz and big band records. He also had an interest in airline schedules and streetcars.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Kathryn Loveless Wells of Silver Spring; and two children, Michael R. Wells of Chevy Chase and Linda J. Gould of Silver Spring.