Charles Larry Arnold

Larry Arnold was a committed family man, church member and business owner. His livelihood benefited the town that he called home for nearly 79 years, and his religious life brought stability to the Whitley County community. If you met Larry the first thing you notice and remember is his warm smile. He smiled from the inside with a warm sense of caring as well as humor. You could read his love from his eyes and smile. His hand was always outreached to others in generous methods of service. He more often than not gave of himself to help others in anyway possible. He was never a man of material wealth but enough to share. He never forgot a face or a name. With a warm smile he always would ask others of their families, jobs, life with a true heart.

At the station where he was now caring for second and third generation customers he always had a ready story of remembrance of someone in that customers life and family. He was a great (honest) story teller of life events. He had a detailed memory of exactness until most recent weeks when the effects of cancers radiation and chemotherapy treatments began to close in. The young man, Justin, who mechanics and helps manage the station business was in his heart as one of his boys. In the course of the illness he managed to keep that smile until at the end when the disease became too much to handle. He had a keen sense of humor that continued to show even until the last hours of his life. He was never a complainer and could always find a bright light in every circumstance. He was a good listener never jumping to judgments or instant resolution. He was a ponderer always finding a way to fix it. He loved his God, his wife and family, his people as he referred to others and a love to serve his God, home and family and others in that order. In our marriage and family we always knew he was there for us and would find a way. He loved life and we loved him. He finished the race with his torch still lit.

His love for God showed itself in his love for his wife, children and grandchildren and it spread to others around him. Larry was hard working, faithful and helpful in all he put to heart and hand.

Larry was born on November 10, 1936 in South Whitley, Indiana, the son of George Esta and Opal (Lancaster) Arnold. As economic hardships continued around the globe and political matters were stirring in Europe, Americans were calmed by Franklin Roosevelts Fireside Chats. They swelled with pride over Jesse Owens gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. At home in South Whitley, Larry grew up just doors away from where he would spend his entire adult life. The town was rural enough to allow him to explore the German woods behind his home and small enough for young boys to make all the local sports teams they wanted. Like most children, Larry looked forward to Christmas and one season he was especially hopeful of receiving two gifts that he had his heart set on: a model train and an Erector Set. He knew he was asking the impossible, so it was all the more surprising when he found a huge train track running throughout their large living room Christmas morning. The Erector Set may have been used, but Larry and his brothers were thrilled to make it their own.

Larrys childhood was also filled with responsible activities and life lessons that came from his father, mother and older siblings. Larry delivered daily newspapers throughout South Whitley and then began working for his father at E.G. Arnold Oil Parts at the age of 12. To get around town, Larry and his brother Jim shared an old used bike and they desperately wanted a new one. When they asked if they could buy a bike they had seen in the window of South Whitley Western Auto, their father promised he would pay for half if they saved for half. So after the boys worked at odd jobs, passing newspapers, mowing yards and helping at the gas station and delivering newspapers, they went to dad and told him they had their half to go to the Western Auto Store. When it was time to make their purchase, they didnt end up going to the Western Auto Store. Their dad surprised them by heading to the Schwinn Bike Shop in nearby Huntington and telling the boys to pick out their favorite. A beautiful red painted and chrome covered bike stood out to them, but they couldnt pay for even half of it. To their amazement, their father paid the entire cost and the boys had the bike of their dreams as well as a firm value instilled. What they learned that day shaped them long term. Larry developed a work ethic and generosity that became a hallmark of his life.

Another impression was made on Larry when he played basketball at South Whitley High School. A favorite game played was that when his father made a special effort to attend after taking off work from the station to watch his son play. Larry played his heart out and was so proud his dad was there to see his game. No doubt the importance of his dads effort contributed, in part, to Larrys future decision to coach his sons Little League Baseball and Little League Basketball teams and volunteered with the as a Boy Scouts. He always made an effort to attend, if just briefly, our home games. We cannot remember his absence at any of our activities growing up.

After graduating from South Whitley High School with the Class of 1954, Larry entered the United States Army and proudly served in the National Guard. He was very patriotic and, in later years, joined the Whitley County Patriots Group as a way of expressing his concern for his nation. Having completed his military duty, Larry returned to South Whitley and picked up where he left off at the gas station. In 1978 the name of the business changed to Arnold Brothers Oil and Parts.

For sport and recreation, Larrys interests ranged from hunting and hobby collecting to baseball and classis cars. He was a lifetime member of the NRA and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan, either watching them on TV or at the stadium or listening to the game on the radio while working at the gas station. He collected, starting as a boy arrowheads. Another favorite was to collect car parts at swap meets later in life. Anything to do with classic cars, Larry was eager to attend, so he went to Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum festivals and numerous other car shows throughout the region.

Larry married the love of his life, Janet Clark, on October 27, 1963. The couple was blessed with four sonsCraig, Douglas, Ross and Jarretbut sadly, they lost their only daughter Marissa Kaye to SIDS in 1969. In addition to coaching and scouting, Larry taught his boys to shoot BB guns and then 410 guns. He liked being with them no matter if they were canoeing, miniature golfing or hunting. Often times they bagged groundhogs and rabbits, but Larry especially cherished the times he and his sons and grandson Jordan went deer and elk hunting in Colorado, Wyoming and Indiana (he filled four tags while hunting elk).

Larrys travels also took him around the Midwest and to Washington D.C. with Janet for their trip on behalf of his church. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Columbia City. Larry loved his family and his church and served in many capacities. He was very instrumental in the organization of the Columbia City church Branch which first met at the high school starting 17 years ago. Fifteen years ago he assisted in land selection and the building of the local LDS church. He was Branch President for 5 years. He and his wife served as local church missionaries for the past 6 years conducting numerous LDS Strengthening Marriage and Family Seminars throughout Indiana and Northern Kentucky

In addition, the two of them traveled one Saturday per month to serve at the Chicago Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and made an annual anniversary trip to the church temple in Washington D.C. Larry and Janet were partners in life and in spreading the good news of Christ.

Back home at their local church, Larry was fondly known as the Candy Man. He carried Herseys Kisses in one pocket and Jolly Ranchers in the other. If children had memorized the weekly scripture verse, they received a Jolly Ranger; if they could recite additional scriptures, they were given Herseys Kisses; and if all the Articles of Faith were known, they were rewarded with a big chocolate bar. Needless to say, the church was vital in Larrys life, and encouraging the faith of others was deeply meaningful.

Family had always been important to Larry, and they celebrated their life together through the good times and the bad. When he was diagnosed with his first cancer just before his 40th Wedding Anniversary, Larry was intent on creating a fun family memory. He arranged for a vacation to Yellowstone in 2000, and true to his hopes, the family shared many funny and precious moments. As if that wasnt enough, their four sons surprised their mom and dad with a 40th Anniversary trip to Alaska. Larry pinpointed it as a highlight of his life. He and Janet celebrated 12 more anniversaries and the loving couple kept the tradition of exchanging a white rose for all 52 of them.

He loved his home town of South Whitley. He loved his community and the people. He often referred to South Whitley as his town, his home, his people.

Larry Arnold, 78, of South Whitley passed away peacefully with his family at his side at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana after a few months of battling cancer.

Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Janet Arnold, South Whitley; 4 sons, Craig R. (Leslie) Arnold, Columbia City, Douglas B. (Vicki) Arnold, Cowley, WY, Ross B. (Sherralynn) Arnold, North Odgen, UT and Jarret J. (Alethea) Arnold, San Antonio, TX; 20 grandchildren, 1 brother, Eddie Wayne (Edna) Arnold, South Whitley and 3 sisters, Norma June (Lynn) Kyler, Florida, Doris Jean Hurd, South Whitley and Connie Lee (Kevin) Snyder, Fort Wayne. He is preceded in death by his parents, 1 daughter, Marissa Kaye Arnold, in 1969, 1 brother, Jimmie Dean Arnold and 1 sister, Betty Lou Jackson.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2015 from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, 3085 East Lincolnway, Columbia City on Friday, November 13, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Presiding will be Fort Wayne Stake President Ferril Sorenson, Conducting will be Bishop Jens Clegg, Elder Tom Chamberlain will serve as organist and Sister Jennifer Chamberlain will be directing the music. His casket bearers will be Jordan, Athena, Caitlin, Marissa, Gunner, Chase, Abigail, Alaric, Capri and Bo Arnold. Honorary pall bearers are, Rachel, Claire, Hunter and Braden Connally, Tanis, Anna, Victoria, Sariah, Cy and Bridger Arnold, Ross Staller, Roy Hinds, Steve Baxter, Max Pace, Bill Benkenstein and Justin Eloph. Burial will follow at South Whitley Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given in Larrys memory to Continuing Care Center, Parkview Hospital in care of Parkview Foundation or to Cancer Service of Northeast Indiana.