Thomas Herbert Arnold, Jr., 82, peacefully passed away on June 1, 2012 in Modesto, California with his loving family by his side. Thomas was born on March 1, 1930 in Haynesville, Louisiana to Thomas Herbert Arnold and Myrtle Crump Arnold. Throughout his life, he was always proud of his Southern roots.
Thomas attended Louisiana State University (LSU) where he received a BS, MS and completed PhD coursework in Chemical Engineering, and was a member of numerous honorary fraternities. He obtained a law degree from Yale Law School finishing in the top of his class. Thomas' zeal for life also earned him the status of honorary Brigadier in the Rebel Yell Brigade.
A great patriot, he served in the United States Army Chemical Corp during the Korean War, and was a staunch Republican who loved the American political system.
Thomas met Ilze Riters at LSU in 1956 and the Louisiana Boy and the Latvian Gal began an adventurous life that crisscrossed the U.S. Along the way, they had four children in four different states and developed long-lasting friendships with a wide spectrum of people. They would have been married 55 years in July.
Thomas was an eternal student with an entrepreneurial spirit and firm work ethic who always looked for intellectual stimulation and new challenges. He was first a senior editor with McGraw-Hill Publishing in New York City and Houston, Texas working on chemical engineering trade publications. At that time, he co-developed Chemical Engineering's Plant Cost Index, which remains the industry standard today. After completing law school, he headed West to work for famed San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli, including on the trial of Jack Ruby, part of the JFK assassination saga. Next, he returned to New York City and the chemical industry to take a senior advisor position with Esso Chemical. It was during his international travels with Esso when he fell in love with Greece and the Greek's zest for life. Thomas then moved to Modesto, CA to work in the executive offices at E&J Gallo Winery. Later, he was founder and owner of Computers Feed & Fuel, one of Modesto's first computer and software businesses. Before retirement, he was a financial advisor at A.G. Edwards.
Thomas lived life to its fullest and loved his family above all else. They covered many miles exploring backroads and creating lasting memories in every place they lived. As a true Southerner, he was charming and eccentric with a big magnanimous heart. Thomas never met a stranger, and every person's life was a "story" worth knowing. He took particular interest in the lives of young people and encouraged them to pursue their dreams. Thomas was truly one-of-a-kind.
Thomas was predeceased by his parents Thomas Herbert Arnold and Myrtle Crump Arnold and brothers Herbert Rodney Arnold and Reverend Tracy Raymond Arnold.
He is survived by his wife, Ilze Riters Arnold; son Andrew (Shawne) Arnold of Turlock, CA; daughters Melanie (Gerhard) Gassner of Santa Rosa, CA; Elizabeth (Art) Wickman of Waterford, CA; and Stephanie (John) Walter of El Cerrito, CA. He was "Big Daddy" to 10 grandchildren: Maxwell, Kristen & Emily Arnold; Zoey & Lucy Gassner; Carly & Cody Wickman; Grant, Owen & Henry Walter.
(Obituary from Haynesville News, June 7, 2012)
Thomas attended Louisiana State University (LSU) where he received a BS, MS and completed PhD coursework in Chemical Engineering, and was a member of numerous honorary fraternities. He obtained a law degree from Yale Law School finishing in the top of his class. Thomas' zeal for life also earned him the status of honorary Brigadier in the Rebel Yell Brigade.
A great patriot, he served in the United States Army Chemical Corp during the Korean War, and was a staunch Republican who loved the American political system.
Thomas met Ilze Riters at LSU in 1956 and the Louisiana Boy and the Latvian Gal began an adventurous life that crisscrossed the U.S. Along the way, they had four children in four different states and developed long-lasting friendships with a wide spectrum of people. They would have been married 55 years in July.
Thomas was an eternal student with an entrepreneurial spirit and firm work ethic who always looked for intellectual stimulation and new challenges. He was first a senior editor with McGraw-Hill Publishing in New York City and Houston, Texas working on chemical engineering trade publications. At that time, he co-developed Chemical Engineering's Plant Cost Index, which remains the industry standard today. After completing law school, he headed West to work for famed San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli, including on the trial of Jack Ruby, part of the JFK assassination saga. Next, he returned to New York City and the chemical industry to take a senior advisor position with Esso Chemical. It was during his international travels with Esso when he fell in love with Greece and the Greek's zest for life. Thomas then moved to Modesto, CA to work in the executive offices at E&J Gallo Winery. Later, he was founder and owner of Computers Feed & Fuel, one of Modesto's first computer and software businesses. Before retirement, he was a financial advisor at A.G. Edwards.
Thomas lived life to its fullest and loved his family above all else. They covered many miles exploring backroads and creating lasting memories in every place they lived. As a true Southerner, he was charming and eccentric with a big magnanimous heart. Thomas never met a stranger, and every person's life was a "story" worth knowing. He took particular interest in the lives of young people and encouraged them to pursue their dreams. Thomas was truly one-of-a-kind.
Thomas was predeceased by his parents Thomas Herbert Arnold and Myrtle Crump Arnold and brothers Herbert Rodney Arnold and Reverend Tracy Raymond Arnold.
He is survived by his wife, Ilze Riters Arnold; son Andrew (Shawne) Arnold of Turlock, CA; daughters Melanie (Gerhard) Gassner of Santa Rosa, CA; Elizabeth (Art) Wickman of Waterford, CA; and Stephanie (John) Walter of El Cerrito, CA. He was "Big Daddy" to 10 grandchildren: Maxwell, Kristen & Emily Arnold; Zoey & Lucy Gassner; Carly & Cody Wickman; Grant, Owen & Henry Walter.
(Obituary from Haynesville News, June 7, 2012)
Thomas Herbert Arnold, Jr., 82, peacefully passed away on June 1, 2012 in Modesto, California with his loving family by his side. Thomas was born on March 1, 1930 in Haynesville, Louisiana to Thomas Herbert Arnold and Myrtle Crump Arnold. Throughout his life, he was always proud of his Southern roots.
Thomas attended Louisiana State University (LSU) where he received a BS, MS and completed PhD coursework in Chemical Engineering, and was a member of numerous honorary fraternities. He obtained a law degree from Yale Law School finishing in the top of his class. Thomas' zeal for life also earned him the status of honorary Brigadier in the Rebel Yell Brigade.
A great patriot, he served in the United States Army Chemical Corp during the Korean War, and was a staunch Republican who loved the American political system.
Thomas met Ilze Riters at LSU in 1956 and the Louisiana Boy and the Latvian Gal began an adventurous life that crisscrossed the U.S. Along the way, they had four children in four different states and developed long-lasting friendships with a wide spectrum of people. They would have been married 55 years in July.
Thomas was an eternal student with an entrepreneurial spirit and firm work ethic who always looked for intellectual stimulation and new challenges. He was first a senior editor with McGraw-Hill Publishing in New York City and Houston, Texas working on chemical engineering trade publications. At that time, he co-developed Chemical Engineering's Plant Cost Index, which remains the industry standard today. After completing law school, he headed West to work for famed San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli, including on the trial of Jack Ruby, part of the JFK assassination saga. Next, he returned to New York City and the chemical industry to take a senior advisor position with Esso Chemical. It was during his international travels with Esso when he fell in love with Greece and the Greek's zest for life. Thomas then moved to Modesto, CA to work in the executive offices at E&J Gallo Winery. Later, he was founder and owner of Computers Feed & Fuel, one of Modesto's first computer and software businesses. Before retirement, he was a financial advisor at A.G. Edwards.
Thomas lived life to its fullest and loved his family above all else. They covered many miles exploring backroads and creating lasting memories in every place they lived. As a true Southerner, he was charming and eccentric with a big magnanimous heart. Thomas never met a stranger, and every person's life was a "story" worth knowing. He took particular interest in the lives of young people and encouraged them to pursue their dreams. Thomas was truly one-of-a-kind.
Thomas was predeceased by his parents Thomas Herbert Arnold and Myrtle Crump Arnold and brothers Herbert Rodney Arnold and Reverend Tracy Raymond Arnold.
He is survived by his wife, Ilze Riters Arnold; son Andrew (Shawne) Arnold of Turlock, CA; daughters Melanie (Gerhard) Gassner of Santa Rosa, CA; Elizabeth (Art) Wickman of Waterford, CA; and Stephanie (John) Walter of El Cerrito, CA. He was "Big Daddy" to 10 grandchildren: Maxwell, Kristen & Emily Arnold; Zoey & Lucy Gassner; Carly & Cody Wickman; Grant, Owen & Henry Walter.
(Obituary from Haynesville News, June 7, 2012)
Thomas attended Louisiana State University (LSU) where he received a BS, MS and completed PhD coursework in Chemical Engineering, and was a member of numerous honorary fraternities. He obtained a law degree from Yale Law School finishing in the top of his class. Thomas' zeal for life also earned him the status of honorary Brigadier in the Rebel Yell Brigade.
A great patriot, he served in the United States Army Chemical Corp during the Korean War, and was a staunch Republican who loved the American political system.
Thomas met Ilze Riters at LSU in 1956 and the Louisiana Boy and the Latvian Gal began an adventurous life that crisscrossed the U.S. Along the way, they had four children in four different states and developed long-lasting friendships with a wide spectrum of people. They would have been married 55 years in July.
Thomas was an eternal student with an entrepreneurial spirit and firm work ethic who always looked for intellectual stimulation and new challenges. He was first a senior editor with McGraw-Hill Publishing in New York City and Houston, Texas working on chemical engineering trade publications. At that time, he co-developed Chemical Engineering's Plant Cost Index, which remains the industry standard today. After completing law school, he headed West to work for famed San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli, including on the trial of Jack Ruby, part of the JFK assassination saga. Next, he returned to New York City and the chemical industry to take a senior advisor position with Esso Chemical. It was during his international travels with Esso when he fell in love with Greece and the Greek's zest for life. Thomas then moved to Modesto, CA to work in the executive offices at E&J Gallo Winery. Later, he was founder and owner of Computers Feed & Fuel, one of Modesto's first computer and software businesses. Before retirement, he was a financial advisor at A.G. Edwards.
Thomas lived life to its fullest and loved his family above all else. They covered many miles exploring backroads and creating lasting memories in every place they lived. As a true Southerner, he was charming and eccentric with a big magnanimous heart. Thomas never met a stranger, and every person's life was a "story" worth knowing. He took particular interest in the lives of young people and encouraged them to pursue their dreams. Thomas was truly one-of-a-kind.
Thomas was predeceased by his parents Thomas Herbert Arnold and Myrtle Crump Arnold and brothers Herbert Rodney Arnold and Reverend Tracy Raymond Arnold.
He is survived by his wife, Ilze Riters Arnold; son Andrew (Shawne) Arnold of Turlock, CA; daughters Melanie (Gerhard) Gassner of Santa Rosa, CA; Elizabeth (Art) Wickman of Waterford, CA; and Stephanie (John) Walter of El Cerrito, CA. He was "Big Daddy" to 10 grandchildren: Maxwell, Kristen & Emily Arnold; Zoey & Lucy Gassner; Carly & Cody Wickman; Grant, Owen & Henry Walter.
(Obituary from Haynesville News, June 7, 2012)
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