Arlene Mae Cox Koehl was born in South Gate, California on September 21, 1931 and departed this life on March 2, 2016 in Loma Linda, California at the age of 84.
In 1945, Arlene moved with her family to Loma Linda her 8th grade year and graduated from Loma Linda Academy in 1950. She attended La Sierra College majoring in business and spent her working career at Loma Linda University Medical Center for 25 years in various positions in the Patient Business Office and as Gift Shop Manager.
On Christmas Day, 1951 Arlene married the love of her life, James B. Koehl. Together they raised two children and enjoyed many outdoor activities such as water and snow skiing, camping, boating, travelling, and logged numerous hours as co-pilot with her husband in single & twin engine airplanes. Arlene loved to garden, paint on canvas and to travel the world. She has spent time in Mexico, England, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Bali, Singapore, and Belize.
As an accomplished pianist, organist, and accordionist, Arlene enjoyed performing accordion duets with her sister Geraldine around the Inland Empire including by radio, and served as organist for the Azure Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church for many years.
Arlene was passionate about helping others, and volunteered at Loma Linda Academy, Loma Linda Community Hospital Gift Shop, as Community Services Director of the Hesperia Seventh-day Adventist Church and at Loma Linda Campus Hill Church where she has been a member for many years. Arlene treasured the lifelong friendships she developed with classmates, coworkers, church members and her community. She was known to many as Oma, and valued spending time with her family and friends.
Arlene was preceded in death by her loving husband, James Koehl in 1981 and her parents Cecil and Olive Cox. She is survived by her daughter, Jeanene (Ron) Preast; son, James (Vicki) Koehl; granddaughters, Jealynn (Kevin) Bahnmiller, Janae (Joseph) Hewes; and great-granddaughters,
Kaelynn and Addison Bahnmiller.
A celebration of life service will be held Thursday, March 10, at 2pm at Montecito Memorial Park & Mortuary Chapel, 3520 East Washington St., Colton, CA.
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