Paul Ellis Arnold

Paul Ellis Arnold, 94, passed away on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at Brookdale Kingsport. Paul was a lifelong resident of Kingsport, Tennessee, and except for a four-year tour of North Africa, Italy and the Philippines in service of the Nation of the United States Army during World War II, he spent his life working and raising a family in the Kingsport area.

Paul was educated in Kingsport and left school early, working to help his family. In 1941, at 18 years old, he, along with his brother, Steve Arnold, joined the military and left home to fight for America against the Nazis. Paul was assigned to the 235th Combat Engineers, Second Corp, of the United States Fifth Army. In 1943, the 235th and Fifth Army invaded Europe through Salerno, Italy, to begin the formidable task of liberating Italy and its capitol, Rome. As the first allied combat troops on European soil and after a nine-month campaign through Italy, the Fifth Army liberated Rome on June 4, 1944 – two days before the Normandy D-Day Invasion began. Despite his relative youth, Paul became a Sargent leading his squad in building roads and bridges for the Fifth Army’s movements, often under active enemy fire. The perilous nature of the duties of the 235th is evidenced by the 38 killed and 196 combat wounds suffered by the 235th in the Italian campaign.

Upon his return from the Military Service, Paul married Helen Francis Mowell of Kingsport and began a career at Blue Ridge Glass Plant in Kingsport. A natural leader, Paul eventually became Supervisor of Maintenance for what evolved from Blue Ridge Glass Plant into AFG Industries. During his career, Paul supervised the construction of the glass manufacturing float lines at the AFG Glass Plant in Church Hill and the disassembling of a purchased glass float plant in New Jersey and the reconstruction of the equipment in East Tennessee. He retired from AFG Industries in 1986 after 40 plus years of service.

Paul and Helen were happily married for 41 years until Helen passed away at the age of 60. During their years together, they raised three children, Richard Alan Arnold of Rogersville, Tennessee, Cathy Irene Arnold Butler of Gray, TN, and Paula Faye Arnold of Kingsport, TN. Being loving and engaging parents, Paul and Helen’s home was often the center of activity for their children’s friends. His demeanor and wit caused him to remain a favorite of many of his children’s friends who stayed in touch with Paul throughout his life.

After Helen’s premature passing, Paul remarried Peggy Felty of Bristol in 1989. Paul and Peggy were happily married for 19 years until Peggy passed away in 2006.

Paul remained an active person in retirement – building a new home virtually by himself while in his late sixties. He enjoyed woodworking and caring for his yard into his late eighties. Paul, consistent with his life-long leadership and decisiveness, voluntarily surrendered his car and driver’s license at 88 years of age and moving into assisted living at age 91. His decisions were unprompted and unequivocal saving his children from making hard life decisions that often confront adult children with aged parents.

Paul will be remembered for his strength of character, judgement and sense of humor by all who knew, loved and respected him.

Paul was preceded in death by his wives, Helen Francis Mowell and Peggy Felty Arnold; his parents, Steve Arnold, Sr. and Oakley Cole Arnold; brother, Steve Arnold, Jr. and sisters, Ruby Arnold Pate and Helen Arnold Meridith.

Paul is survived by his daughters, Paula Faye Arnold of Kingsport, TN and Cathy Irene Arnold Butler and husband David of Gray, TN, son Richard Alan Arnold and wife Mary O’Dell of Rogersville, TN; grandchildren, Carey Ann Butler Deyton and husband Micah of Gray, TN, Chauncey O’Dell Arnold of West Hollywood, CA, and Joseph Paul Arnold of Irvine, CA; Great-grandchildren Wyatt Deyton and Sydney Deyton of Gray, TN. In addition to his immediate family, Paul was particularly fond of surviving nieces and nephews, Lindy Meridith Sloan, Martha Arnold Chapman, Bennett Pate and Bob Arnold.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Paul’s name to SARAH’S CLOSET, c/o Rogersville Presbyterian Church, 309 W. Kyle St., Rogersville, TN 37857 (tel. 423-272-8439).

SARAH’S CLOSET is a charity to supply basic school supplies for disadvantaged children.

The family is grateful to the staff at Brookdale Kingsport and his caregivers from Care Central for the excellent care and comfort Paul received from them over the last three years. And a special thanks to the caregivers from Amedysis Hospice for easing Paul’s last days.

The family will receive friends on Saturday June 2, 2018 at 1:00pm at East Lawn Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 2:00pm and be officiated by Rev. Rodney Norris of Rogersville Presbyterian Church, Rogersville, TN.

Military Honors conducted by the Bristol VFW Honor Guard.

A reception will follow the service at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made to the Arnold family at www.eastlawnkingsport.com. East Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park has the honor of serving the Arnold family.