Juanita Arnold

Juanita Cook Arnold was born in a farmhouse in Allen County, Indiana on August 23, 1918, to Elmer Cook and Carrie (Opliger) Cook. Juanita’s family can be traced to the Fort Wayne area as far back as the mid-1800s, with Cook Road being named for her family. Juanita had seven siblings, Kenneth, William, Phyllis, Elmer, Mary, Ruth, and Lucretia, who survives. Born during World War I and the 1918 influenza epidemic, Juanita came of age during the Great Depression and witnessed many historic developments during her lifetime. She often told her grandchildren of how she and her siblings sat in the front yard of the family farm watching Lima Road being paved for the first time. Juanita attended elementary school at Washington Township and graduated from Northside High School, where she played basketball as a guard, as she was five foot two inches tall. In recalling her basketball-playing days, Juanita often complained of not being allowed to shoot the ball because as a guard she had to remain at the other end of the court. She encouraged her granddaughters to appreciate the many more opportunities they had. Juanita married Paul William Arnold on April 20, 1940 and spent her honeymoon in Indianapolis. Paul and Juanita raised five sons, Robert “Bob”, Bruce, Gail, Paul David, and Dennis. During the polio epidemic, Juanita’s oldest son Bob contracted polio. She tended to him day and night, and her efforts aided in his recovery while the rest of the family was spared from the virus. Juanita’s home cooking was delicious and legendary, including her family recipes for apple dumplings, oatmeal raisin cookies, and divinity. Juanita hosted large family gatherings for holidays, including traditional turkey dinners and a seemingly endless supply of cookies, date rolls, Chex mix, fudge, divinity, and mixed nuts. During their retirement years, Juanita and Paul enjoyed pizza night every Saturday at Pizza Hut and shopped almost daily at the local White Swan grocery store. They attended their grandchildren’s many baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball games. Juanita had a generous, loving, self-sacrificing spirit. When her mother was in a nursing home, Juanita visited her every day. When her husband began to have heart problems, Juanita supported his new diet and exercise regime, she visited him every day he was in the hospital, and she was with him when he passed away. Serving others was important to Juanita, who was very active in her church, where she prepared food for weddings and funerals, and where she sat in the same pew every Sunday. She instilled this sense of church service and community involvement in her sons, all of whom went into service-oriented professions, including ministry, military service, government work, social work, and elected office. While some may describe Juanita as quiet or reserved, no one could deny her quick wit and wonderful sense of humor. Juanita was known to strike up conversations with delivery persons, maintenance workers who came by, and postal carriers as if they were old friends who came to visit. If she noticed a newscaster or a baseball player had a name that sounded familiar, like a family friend from when she was younger, she would not hesitate to reach out to them by phone or letter. She even wrote to members of the Chicago Cubs, her favorite baseball team. Juanita also informed the management of the Wendy’s restaurant on Lima Road that it was located in approximately the same spot as her family farmhouse. She suggested that they should rename their restaurant to “Carrie’s Kitchen” because that was where her mother’s kitchen had been located. Juanita lived in the house that she and Paul built well into her nineties, after which she moved to Heritage Point. There, she became a very popular resident, as people could not believe how young she looked and acted. When Juanita went on her walks around the facility, she was greeted with calls of “Well, hello Juanita! You’re looking good!” Among the conversations she had with people as she walked by, she would discuss the scores of the recent Cubs game or Purdue basketball game, depending on the season. Juanita showed great perseverance and grit through her 104 years. When asked what her secret was, Juanita would say with a sparkle in her eye, “no green vegetables and lots of chocolate!” Her family and friends know that her courage in the face of adversity, her can-do attitude, her faith in God, and her strong network of family and friends may have also had something to do with it. Juanita passed away on July 13, 2024 at the age of 105. She is survived by her sister Lucretia Hunt; five sons Robert “Bob” Arnold (Susan), Bruce Arnold (Marcia), Gail Arnold (Clara), Paul David Arnold (JoAnn), and Dennis Arnold (Barbara); her twelve grandchildren Christopher Arnold (Laura), Susan Richards (Mike), Jennifer Barnard, Beckett Arnold (Mary), Alicia Sunga (Marc), Carrie Parker (Chad), Mark Arnold, Erin Arnold (Peter), Joshua Arnold (Ashley), Matthew Arnold (Maki), Sarah Raber (Mike), and Kristina Arnold; her 19 great-grandchildren Devon Arnold (Isabell), Nathan Arnold, Hailey Richards, Ashley Klein (Colin), Trinity Barnard, DJ Barnard, Kaitlyn Parker, Gabe Sunga, Max Sunga, Alexander Arnold Ruest, Julia Arnold Ruest, Brooks Arnold, Elliott Arnold, Kasey Arnold, Tylor Arnold, Braden Meemken, Raya Meemken, Emma Raber, and Katie Raber; and two great-great grandchildren, CJ Arnold and Sawyer Klein. Juanita’s kindness, spunk, and sense of humor will be greatly missed. The family is comforted that Juanita is reunited with those who went on before her, including Paul, her devoted husband of 55 years, and her three brothers and three sisters. Funeral service will be 11:00 am Saturday July 27, 2024 ,at Bethel Ministries 8405 Lima Road Fort Wayne, IN, with visitation one hour prior. Visitation also from 2-7 Friday July 26, 2024 at D.O. McComb and Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home 1320 E. Dupont Road, Fort Wayne, IN. Burial at Eel River Cemetery, Churubusco, IN. Memorials may be made to Bethel Ministries.