Wyatt Wayne Arnold

Wyatt was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas on February 3rd, 1928, to Russell and Emma Arnold. Born the eighth of nine children, Wyatt grew up during the depression having to make due with very little. Much of Wyatt’s childhood was spent working in order to help his family. Community pools, skating rinks, delivery driving, and fruit picking were just some of the jobs he worked as a teenager. There is no doubt that his family’s humble circumstances shaped the hard-working, generous, modest person that he was.

In 1945, Wyatt was given the greatest gift of his life when he met Patricia (“Pat”) Bynum. They quickly fell in love but their relationship was put in serious jeopardy in 1946 when Pat’s family moved west to San Jose, California. Never facing a problem he didn’t think he could fix, Wyatt hitchhiked from Fort Smith to San Jose to resume their courtship. Their love and subsequent marriage in August, 1947 lasted 70 years before Pat’s passing in May, 2016.

Much of Wyatt’s life was spent fixing, repairing, diagnosing and building. He seemed to understand anything and everything mechanical. Having worked at St. Clair Motors (Cadillac) for nearly 40 years, he could diagnose or fix all things car-related. But, he also understood and could overhaul, restore or repair just about anything else. Appliances, plumbing, carpentry, electronics, wood, metal, water - it didn’t matter. There was seemingly nothing that was too much for him. He was also a huge fan of country music, played a very good round of golf, loved children, and had an affinity for cats. His love for cats is not surprising as they both understood each other’s finnicky personality.

Wyatt, at his core, was the quintessential country gentleman. Considerate, generous with his time, and remarkably humble, Wyatt lived his life honestly and decently. Often surrounded by a world that over-values labels, status, insincerity and superficialness, Wyatt was truly the opposite. He was truthful, accepting, unassuming, and moderate with his living habits. He found lots of joy in hearing his grandchildren laugh with “Papa”, talking with his neighbor, sitting with his wife, or enjoying a good home-cooked meal. He was refreshingly earnest and genuine. If you knew him, he was truly the nicest person you’d ever known.

Wyatt was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Patricia, and his daughter Diane. He is survived by his son David Arnold, grandchildren Jeffrey Rogers (Molly), Jennifer Sullivan (Don), David Arnold Jr. (Danielle), Brandon Arnold, great-grandchildren Priscilla, Simone, Georgia, Victoria, Sierra Warrick and Finn as well as many nieces, nephews and dear friends. Wyatt bids them all God’s peace until he meets them again in his heavenly home.