Arthur C. Musselman, Jr., age 86, of Knightsdale, N.C., walked into the arms of Jesus on December 4, 2024. He was born August 24, 1938 to the late Arthur C. Musselman, Sr. and Mildred Ditton Musselman in Huntington, Indiana.
Art grew up in Huntington, and still fondly referred to it as home. He enjoyed annual trips back, until recently, to visit family and childhood friends who knew him as “Butch.”
After graduating from Huntington High School, he attended The Citadel in Charleston, SC, where he played basketball and had an impressive record as one of the original “Blitz Kids.” Following graduation, he joined the Marine Corps where he served for three years. From there, he began coaching college basketball.
Art’s first coaching position was at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC; and until his passing, he enjoyed a special relationship with many of his players since reconnecting about 13 years ago. His last college coaching position was as an assistant coach at N.C. State University. It was during his time there, that the team won the national championship in 1974. He loved sports – especially basketball, and he loved his players!
Special athletic honors included induction into the Huntington County Athletic Hall of Fame (1981); The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame (1981); and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame (2014). In addition, his Citadel Jersey #33 was honored in 2009. Although he was proud of these honors, Art was a very humble man and never felt deserving.
After he left coaching, he focused on education and earned a Masters in Special Education, teaching in several schools as well as the prison system within North Carolina. Even after retiring, he continued to work a variety of part-time jobs, including working with special needs children within the Wake County School System.
Art loved people, never met a stranger, and spent many years serving at Hephzibah Baptist Church in various capacities – as a deacon, a greeter, and volunteering in the children’s department, where rocking those babies in the nursery brought him so much joy. But he loved people of all ages, from babies to senior adults, and was a great encourager. His fellowship with his brothers in Christ was very important to him as well – participating in different Bible studies and other activities. He loved the Lord and his church family, continued to grow spiritually, and wanted to make a difference wherever he could.
Not to take last place, but Art loved his family and was always thrilled to hear from and spend time with them. He was a blessed man, a man of love, and a man who was deeply loved, and will be missed by all who knew him.
Memorial Service will be held at 3:00pm Sunday, December 15, 2024 at Hephzibah Baptist Church, 1794 Wendell Blvd, Wendell, NC 27591. Visitation will begin at 2:00pm.
Art is survived by his wife, Carol Wilson Musselman; children: Stephanie Musselman Marquez (Lilio), Arthur C. “Ace” Musselman, III (Sharon), Michelle Musselman Weston (Dwayne); stepchildren: Gregory Scott Hilburn (Cathy), and Rhonda Michelle Hilburn; grandchildren: Dakota Marquez (Veronica), Dustin Marquez, Jake Marquez, and Austin Hilburn (Emily); great-grandchildren: August and Ivey Marquez; several nieces, nephews, and in-laws who were his family. Many others within the family circle knew him as “Papa Art.”
In addition to his parents, Art is preceded in death by his sister, Connie McCutcheon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hephzibah Baptist Church designated to Lottie Moon Missions.
Services
VISITATION
Sunday December 15, 2024
2:00 PM to 2:45 PM
Hephzibah Baptist Church (Wendell Blvd, NC)
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Sunday December 15, 2024
3:00 PM
Hephzibah Baptist Church (Wendell Blvd, NC)