Henry S. Arnold, Sr. born January 16, 1924, passed away on November 28, 2013. Mr. Arnold graduated from Alexander City High School in 1942 and joined the Army Air Corps to serve as a Ball Turret Gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress, “Miss Donna Mae” where he flew 27 missions over Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster. After WWII he graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) in 1948 as a Mechanical Engineer. At Auburn, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He was an avid Auburn Football Fan and supporter of the School of Engineering. He was employed by Avondale Mills in Sylacauga where he met and married Amy Barbaree in 1949. Mr. Arnold worked for F.J. Evans Engineering Co. in Birmingham and then formed his own company in 1959, Industrial Heating & Finishing Co. a manufacturer of Finishing Systems. He had 80 employees when he sold the company in 1991 and retired. In retirement he enjoyed is favorite hobby of fishing. Mr. Arnold was active with the Boy Scouts and served on the Vulcan District Council. He served as a Deacon, Elder and Treasurer in the Presbyterian Church and taught Sunday school and worked with the youth groups. He helped organize the Alabama Chapter of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and has served either as Secretary, Treasurer, Director, Vice-President and President since its inception and helps with the “Prop-Wash” newsletter. He has talked with many students in grades 2 through college seniors in the Chapter’s “Living History” program and was awarded the Governor’s “Veteran of the Year” Award in 2001. He is survived by his wife, Amy Barbaree Arnold, sons, Henry (Hank) S. Arnold, Jr. (Jill) and Steven Thomas Arnold of Birmingham and daughter, Linda Arnold Dunn (Richard) of Birmingham, sister-in-law, Hazel Arnold, Alexander City, 3 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Arnold served as Guardian of his sister, Elizabeth’s children: Daniel E. Little, Debbie Little Roan (Carl) Montevallo, William Edward Little, Birmingham and James Keith Little, Jackson, GA. Mr. Arnold was preceded in death by his mother, Esten Arnold Powell and father, J.L. Arnold, brothers, Jacob Leroy Arnold and Jesse Ernest Arnold (Eileen) and sister, Elizabeth Arnold Little (Dwight). Mr. Arnold will be buried at Southern Heritage Cemetery at 3pm on Sunday, Dec. 1st. The family will receive friends Sunday following the graveside from 4-5 at Southern Heritage Funeral Home, with the Celebration of Life Service starting at 5pm. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Eight Air Force Heritage Museum, Savannah, GA, or the Presbyterian Children’s Home in Talladega, AL.
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