Jerome Lynn Arnold

Arnold, J. Lynn,70, of Louisville, Lynn Arnold was born on March 1, 1944, and passed away on December 29, 2014. He was a member of Fern Creek High School Class of 1962, where he served on the student council and was a member of the football and debate team. He graduated from the University of Louisville, worked for Thomas Industries, and then started his career as a Quality Control Engineer for General Electric. During his 35-year career, he was responsible for the start-up of the Microwave Division in Columbia, MD. At the Louisville General Electric facility he was responsible for supplier provided parts and equipment, primarily for the Profile models, concentrating in the areas of ovens, cook tops, refrigerators and washers. Lynn's work-related travel took him throughout the United States, as well as Mexico and several Asian countries. Lynn is survived by his wife Diane Potts Arnold; two daughters Shannon Harrison (Jordy) and Brook Basford (Ross), his sister Anita Meyer, four grandchildren and his faithful canine friends, Wookie and Tippy. He was an avid golfer and very proud of making a hole in one shot. He was a meticulous investor and a member of the Fern Creek High School and University of Louisville Alumni Associations. Lynn owned several Mercedes Benz automobiles and enjoyed planning and hosting a car show at Mike Linnig's Restaurant for the Louisville-based Bluegrass Stars Mercedes Club. He was proud to have been a co-owner of Tax Pros in Middletown, with Diane, where he received several tax, accounting and financial planning accreditations. Lynn also enjoyed being the "Moose Meister" and "Chief Puppeteer" for Ruffy Bear and Company, which he also owned in partnership with Diane. As an avid University of Louisville fan, living in a "sports house divided", provided many lively discussions during Louisville and Kentucky football and basketball seasons. Lynn had a wonderful singing voice and loved to sing "Scotch and Soda", "Layla" and "Stairway To Heaven" while playing his 12 string guitar. Lynn and Diane were co-owners of three Thoroughbred race horses. It was exciting to make that first walk on the historic dirt track, from the backside barn to the paddock, with "Our Freedom" and to stand in the Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs. Lynn took great pleasure in telling others to watch out for Diane, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, because she was "qualified" with a Colt 45, a 9 millimeter, .50 caliber machine gun, and M1 Tank. Diane recalls their great travel adventures, including a three-week driving trip through Europe. She set him up by renting an Audi, insisting he be the driver. When they left the Frankfurt Airport and merged into traffic on the Autobahn, large Mercedes Benz automobiles immediately blew past the Audi and Diane couldn't contain her laughter. Lynn had a wonderful best friend, Ivan. He and Ivan loved to shoot pool and exchange tacky Christmas presents. Lynn once gave Ivan a full-size Knight In Shining Armor, and Ivan reciprocated with a giant concrete pig. His wonderful neighbors, Claude and Dave, fondly remember adventures which included "The Great Easter Bunny Takedown", Christmas lawn decoration misdeeds, the time when Lynn was hooked while fly-fishing, and neighborhood Kentucky Derby lawn mower races. Lynn's devoted sister, Anita, recalls their family vacations at Cumberland Lake, which included boating and water skiing. Lynn will always be remembered for his humor, quick wit, as well as his great strength and courage. His favorite motto was, "Look reality in the face and don't blink". A private funeral service was held on December 30 at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven Funeral Home. The family will further celebrate his life with a bag pipe concert. Lynn's entire family extends thanks to the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C.; the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX; and Fresenius Medical Louisville East. Exceptional care givers enabled Lynn to live twelve years after his initial diagnosis of kidney cancer. Although he suffered continued complications of this disease, he was blessed to be cancer free since 2007. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210 (Kidney Cancer Research on check memo line), online at MDAnderson.org;