Helen D. Arnold

Published 12:14 am Sunday, May 10, 2015

Helen D. Arnold passed from this earth to Heaven on May 7, 2015, at Heritage House Retirement Center at the age of 94 years old.

She was born in Vicksburg, August 13, 1920. She graduated from St. Francis Xavier Academy with honors in 1937 and the Southern Business College in 1938, both in Vicksburg.

Her career as an accountant/bookkeeper with the Vicksburg Coca-Cola Bottling Company lasted for over 12 years and that is where she met her husband Ralph. They had only been married a year when Ralph was inducted into the U.S. Army during World War II.

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After their son Eddie was born, she became a stay at home mom for several years. When Eddie started to school, she returned to the business field and began working with the U. S. Waterways Experiment Station Flexible Pavement Lab, and eventually worked within all the labs. Helen retired in 1986 as the lead secretary, reporting to the director of Waterways.

Upon retirement, Helen travelled the world on numerous trips with friends, enjoying each and every trip with a continued passion to see what the world had to offer. She loved music, both listening to musical groups and playing her piano for many years. As a member of Hawkins United Methodist she helped start DMA (Don’t Mention Age) for senior members and loved every minute of it.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard Ralph Arnold in 1983; her parents, Arthur “Chucky” and Ida Mae Douat; and a sister, Alice Mae Arnold (infant).

She is survived by her son, Edward “Eddie” Ralph Arnold and his wife Deborah “Debbie” Parker Arnold of Vicksburg; two grandchildren, Richard “Rick” Allen Arnold and his girlfriend Emily Johnson of Flowood and Shannon Lynn Arnold of St. Louis.

The joys she shared over these last few years would not have been possible without the numerous caregivers of Heritage House Retirement Center and her special caretakers, Elmira Curtis, Phelsia Coffie, Jasmine Coffie and Andrea Alexander.

The family requests that all memorials be made to Hawkins United Methodist Church, Hospice Advantage Angels, or a charity of their choice.

Services will be 2 p.m. Monday, May 11, 2015, at Riles Funeral Home with the Rev. Tommy Miller and the Rev. Susannah Carr officiating. Burial will be at Greenlawn Gardens

Visitation will be from noon until time of the service.

Pallbearers will be Johnny Prewitt, Mark Prewitt, Bob Lucchesi, Allen Lantz, Jerry Boland, Bob Walters, Easy Biedenharn, and David Goree. Honorary Pallbearers  will be past members of Hawkins United Methodist Church DMA.