John Henrie Arnold

John Henrie Arnold, 103, passed away March 23, 2012 and reunited with his loving wife, Jaunita Louise Arnold and daughter, Celeste A. Shoemaker. He was a graduate of Regan High School and served in The United States Army during WWII. John had a passion for the theater business that started in 1927 while he was still studying physics at Rice Institute when he went to work for the Kirby Theater as an usher at only 18 years old. Arnold left to travel to Austin as an assistant manger but later headed back again to the Kirby as assistant manager and then manager. It was there that he hired the first Houston distributive education student. John opened up Houston’s first neighborhood theater, the Yale, simultaneously serving as a lieutenant colonel of the Texas State Guard. It was while managing the Yale that he served the community in almost every phase of community life, having been president of the Heights Rotary Club, District Chairman of the Boy Scouts, board of the YMCA, treasurer of the Salvation Army Board and member of the then “Judge Casey’s” Driving License Committee. He was a charter member of Houston Heights Rotary Club and North Shore Rotary Club where he had a perfect attendance record of 26 years. May his many accomplishments be remembered by all those who knew and loved him, but know his love and commitment to his family was the greatest of all. His legacy will continue to be shared with generations to come. He is survived by his grandson, Charles Shoemaker and wife Sally; granddaughter, Karen Garcia and husband Phillip; great grandchildren: Rachel, Michael, John, Rebecca and Emily Shoemaker, Daniel and wife Victoria, Julie, Valerie and Bethany Garcia; great-great granddaughters, Crimson and Cora Garcia. A Memorial Service will be held in his honor, Sunday, March 25th at 3pm in Brookside Funeral Home.