Arthur Nelson Inman
1923-Jan. 15, 2007
Palo Alto, California

Arthur Nelson Inman, a longtime resident of Menlo Park and Atherton, died Jan.15 at his home at the Hyatt Classic Residence in Palo Alto. He was 84.

He founded the Peninsula Lithograph Co. in Redwood City in 1948, which then expanded and moved in 1960 to Menlo Park, where he printed books for Sunset Publishing Co.

Mr. Inman was born in Chico and grew up in Oroville, where he was his high school's student body president. In 1939 he hitchhiked to Treasure Island to work at the World's Fair, fell in love with the Bay Area, then returned to attend San Jose State College. He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and business.

During World War II, he served in Europe with the Army Air Corps. In 1946 Staff Sgt. Inman returned to marry his college sweetheart, Jeanette Rose Owen.

After working at the Palo Alto Times and the Redwood City Tribune, Mr. Inman founded Peninsula Lithograph. He sold the company to McCalls/Norton Simon in 1968 and retired in 1973. He published Oceans Magazine for six years, then donated it to the Oceanic Society. He then founded Golf Associates, a printing and distributing company of golf manuals.

Mr. Inman was a member of the Suburbans, Sequoia Club, Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club (where he was a charter member), Native Sons of the Golden West, Desert Seniors and the Peninsula Investors.

He served on boards for the Salvation Army, Communications Arts Magazine, and the Sequoia Hospital Foundation, where he was treasurer for the past 10 years. A birthing room at Sequoia Hospital was donated by the Inmans in 1999.

Mr. Inman was a golfer, a master domino champion, made furniture for his homes in Pebble Beach and Truckee, and went salmon fishing in British Columbia, missing only one season in 45 years.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jeanette; daughters Linda Chilton of Atherton, and Diane Inman of Washington; son Roger Inman of Menlo Park; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Tags: veteran, business