Brewster L. Arms, general counsel of the former Signal Oil & Gas Co., has died. He was 95. Specializing in mergers and acquisitions, Brewster worked for Signal from 1953-1986, in Los Angeles and then in San Diego. Over that span, the pioneering Southland oil company transformed into a diversified high-tech aerospace and manufacturing conglomerate, merging to become AlliedSignal in 1985. Born December 18, 1925, at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Brewster was the son of journalist Louis Lee Arms and Mae Marsh, a silent screen star and heroine of D.W. Griffith films including "Birth of a Nation" (1915) and "Intolerance" (1916). Louis Lee Arms had been a publicist for Samuel Goldwyn in New York, where he met the actress Marsh, and married in 1918, then moved West.In the early '30s, Brewster's family relocated from Flintridge to Hermosa Beach. He graduated from Redondo Union High School in 1943.A veteran of World War II, Brewster saw action fighting alongside the French in the battle of Jebsheim and the liberation of Colmar. Brewster served with the 245th Infantry Regiment. Though a part of the 63rd Infantry Division, the 245th was attached to the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division in the critical "Colmar Pocket" in Alsace-Lorraine around January of 1945. Brewster was awarded a Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. His attached division was honored with the Croix de Guerre.After the war, Brewster attended Stanford University, class of 1948, under the G.I. Bill. He played on the basketball team, was a member of the Chi Psi fraternity, and drew cartoons for the "Daily Stanford." He continued his education at Stanford Law School where he was a graduate in the renowned class of 1952, which included William Rehnquist and Sandra Day.Brewster returned to Los Angeles working as an attorney and then as general counsel for Signal Oil & Gas Co., later known as Signal Cos.While at Signal, Brewster met Shirley Smallwood of Whittier. Married in 1962, the couple settled in Palos Verdes, where they raised three children.In 1980, Signal moved its headquarters to La Jolla, and Brewster moved his family to Rancho Santa Fe. In 1986, Brewster retired following Signal's merger with Allied Corporation and the company's relocation to New Jersey.Brewster and Shirley lived "on the Ranch" for 35 years. Active in local groups, Brewster served for a time as president of the RSF Association, and Shirley as president of the Garden Club. Golf and tennis were his equal passions, and he played both games weekly into his late 80s. Brewster was a longtime Rotarian, active in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills chapters, and then in San Diego and Rancho Santa Fe.The couple moved to La Costa Glen in Carlsbad in 2016.Brewster was predeceased by his beloved sisters: Meri Arms Swafford of Palos Verdes and Marguerite Arms White of Manhattan Beach. Brewster is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Shirley, their children Emily Arms (Steven Johnson) of Santa Monica, Stephen Arms (Kelley Jhung) of Encinitas, and Andrew Arms (Cynthia Arms) of Rancho Santa Fe; and granddaughter Abigail Arms Johnson, currently attending St. Olaf College in Minnesota.Services are pending due to Covid.

Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on Mar. 14, 2021.