Arthur Costa Dias

Arthur Costa Dias, 93, of 59 Dexter Street, Middletown, died Friday, May 3, 2002, at the Grand Islander Health Care Center, 333 Green End Avenue, Middletown, RI.He was the husband of Mary DeCosta Dias. Born in St. Miguel, Azores, on October 11, 1908, he was the son of the late Antone C. and Maria Plaicdo Dias. Mr. Dias had worked in the maintenance department at Raytheon in Portsmouth for 11 years, retiring in 1973. He was also the owner and operator of Dias Texaco Station for 20 years, and had previously been a chaffeur at the Avalon Estate. He was a member of the Seven Castle Club, the Middletown Knights of Columbus, the Vasco Da Gama Holy Ghost Society, one of the founders of the rebirth of the Jesus Saviour Feast after WWII, a past member of 4th degree Knights of Columbus, the Holy Name Society and former trustee of Jesus Saviour Church. He is survived by two sons James Dias of Newport, RI, and John Dias of Riverside, RI, two daughters Mary Ann Gamer of Middletown, RI, and Joanne Donnelly of Newport, RI, two brothers Manny Dias and Joseph Dias both of Newport, RI, eleven grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.He was the father of the late Arthur Dias Jr. His funeral will be held Tuesday, May 7, 2002, at 9:00AM, from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00AM in Jesus Saviour Church, Broadway And Vernon Avenue, Newport. Burial will take place in St. Columba Cemetery, Brown?s Lane, Middletown. Memorial donations in his memory may be made to the Vasco da Gama Holy Ghost Society, Fenner Avenue, Newport, RI 02840.