Ralph Arnold 1918-2002

ARNOLD, YARNELL, WALLINGFORD, KOONTS

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 9/16/2002 at 07:39:15

RALPH ARNOLD

LEBANON – Ralph D. Arnold, 84, of Lebanon died at 11:10 p.m. Sept. 11, 2002,
at Van Buren County Hospital, Keosauqua.

He was born Jan. 4, 1918, near Erie, Kan., to George and Mary Yarnell Arnold.
He married Edith Wallingford June 21, 1940, in Harrisburg Township.

He graduated from Stockport High School in 1936. He had farmed near Fairfield,
Bonaparte and Lebanon. He worked with the Van Buren County Soil Conservation
Service as commissioner for 12 years. He wrote a weekly column, “Yesterday
Remembered” for Van Buren County Register and Van Buren Leader-Record, and had
written three books on the history of Van Buren County and one on the history
of the United Methodist Church of Lebanon. He was a member of United Methodist
Church of Lebanon, serving in various church offices and taught a young
people’s Sunday school class. He had been president of Van Buren County
Historical Society and Van Buren Development Association; vice-president of
Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development organization; and was a
member of Villages of Van Buren.

Surviving are his wife; a daughter, Sharon Koonts of Lebanon; a son, James
Arnold of Oelwein; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Bobby Arnold.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Methodist Church of
Lebanon with the Revs. Connie Markle and Harlan Winters officiating. Burial
will be at Miller Chapel Cemetery northeast of Keosauqua.

Open visitation will begin at 2 p.m. today at Pedrick Funeral Home, Keosauqua,
with family present from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Memorials to his church or Keosauqua Public Library may be left at the funeral
home or mailed to the family at ******* .

Source: Ottumwa Courier, Sept. 13, 2002