William Arthur Poyner of Tinton Falls passed away Feb. 15, 2025, at the age of 97.
Born in Newark, Art grew up in Belleville. He was the son and only child of Mary Elizabeth Roe and Albert Lynn Poyner. Art embraced Jesus and his Christian faith during high school and, for the 97 years of his life, he was active in church, community and school activities.
Upon graduation, Art was accepted into Stevens Institute of Technology and earned a degree in civil engineering in 1951.
Art served in the Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. He was stationed in Iran, working in communications and strategy. He was awarded the Medal of Meritorious Honor. After he returned home, he married Mary Elizabeth Whitfield on Aug. 3, 1956, whom he met at a church youth group. Together they raised three children, Marilyn, David and Scott. Art worked as an engineer at Fort Monmouth in Eatontown; he was fondly known as Bill by co-workers.
Over the years, Art served on every committee of the Red Bank UMC, sang in the Chancel Choir, served as Sunday school superintendent and assisted in the nursery and other Sunday school classes as needs arose. He was often seen helping shovel snow in the church parking lot, setting up and taking down tables for flea markets, and cooking and cleaning up for church dinners (the family favorite was the corned beef and cabbage dinner hosted by the men’s group).
When Art was not volunteering at church, he might be seen selling Christmas trees at the Red Bank YMCA, teaching reading and math with the YMCA tutoring program, or performing on the stage of Shrewsbury Borough School to help raise money for the PTA.
In November 2005, Art and Mary moved to Seabrook Village where Mary could receive greater care for her progressing Parkinson’s disease. Five years after Mary died, Art married Barbara Keeley on April 2, 2015. Together they attended church, dinner dances at Seabrook, bingo nights, concerts and more.
Art was a loving and supportive husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He believed all of his accomplishments were a direct response to his faith.
William Arthur Poyner is survived by his wife Barbara; children Marilyn and Edward J. Vines, David and Jackie Poyner and Scott Poyner; grandchildren, Dr. Claire Payne, Elise M. E. Vines, Tyler Poyner and Stephanie Poyner; and great-grandson John Poyner.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29 at United Methodist Church of Red Bank, 247 Broad St., Red Bank.
Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank has been entrusted with the arrangements.
The article originally appeared in the March 6 – 12, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
