Passing of Paul Arca, Founder of Arbutus Soap Box Derby

I’m writing to inform you of the death of my father Paul Arca. Paul was a long-time resident of Halethorpe, and was very involved in community activities in Arbutus. Paul Arca was a pilot in the Air Force, and retired after 17 years as a captain. He was the scoutmaster of Boy Scout (& Cub Scout) Troop 764 for over 23 years, a dedicated supporter of his church, a coach for the Arbutus Little League and Arbutus Softball, and involved in many other community volunteer activities. He was devoted to community service, and taught the boys to do all they can to help others. Paul was an encouraging leader, and he was a mentor to many young boys and girls (a father figure to a lot of them), and helped them to become successful adults who also contributed to the community.

Paul Arca died on Sunday, August 26, 2018; his viewing will be at Ambrose funeral home on Thursday August 30 from 3 to 5 PM, and from 6 to 8 PM. Funeral services will be held at the church of the Ascension on Poplar Avenue in Halethorpe on Friday at 11 AM.

Paul was very active in the Ascension Catholic church and school; serving as cantor, choir member, and teacher in the RCIA program for new Catholics.

Paul Arca was probably best known in Arbutus because he was the founder of the Arbutus Soap Box Derby races that are held on each Fourth of July morning. When we first moved to the community in early 1966, he saw an announcement that the American Legion was holding a soapbox derby race on the Fourth of July, and took my oldest brother to attend it. However, he said that only one car showed up for the race. Paul was determined to do something about it (so that the boys could enjoy such a worthwhile activity on the Fourth of July), so he found plans to build cars, and worked with his Boy Scout troop to make it a success. They built a total of ten cars that first year, and were ready at the beginning of that next July. The official start of the Arbutus Soap Box Derby was that year in 1967, and has continued for many years.

We had a soapbox building center in our driveway that was used to help fathers build cars for their children to use in the races. Paul spent many hours instructing the fathers, and helping them build the cars (sometimes even the night before the races). As the years went by, many of the Boy Scouts became fathers and build cars for their own sons and daughters. Some of those scouts even assisted Paul Arca in running the event each year on the Fourth of July. Paul continued running the annual soapbox derby until his health would not allow him to continue to chair this event. He eventually trained up leaders to continue to run the Arbutus Soap Box Derby when his health was failing him.

Paul Arca was recognized as the founder for the Arbutus Soap Box Derby, and was even selected as a parade marshal for the annual Arbutus Fourth of July parade. He was interviewed in 2016 by the soapbox committee to obtain documentary records on events that led up to the development of the Arbutus Soap Box Derby; and also events that occurred throughout the years. The last time he was physically able to see the soapbox derby was in 2017.

After his death, I thought it only proper that he would want to set up a donation site so that people would provide funds for support of the Arbutus Soap Box Derby in future years. We are trying to set up a specific place where people can donate money to this cause, and will post future notices when this is accomplished. The viewing is open for all interested community members who knew Paul. If you would like to attend the funeral, please contact Victor Arca at 443-690-3201 to verify accommodations at the church.

Thanks go out to everyone who has supported my father in the past, and to those who are lifting us up in prayer at this time.