Vail Ervin J.R. Arnold

Vail Ervin Arnold better known as J.R. was born February 5, 1941 in Centralia, Illinois to Ervin Vale and Marcellene (Bales) Arnold. J.R. was raised and received his education in the Sand Springs/Tulsa area. On April 15, 1960 J.R. was united in marriage to Claudia (Baxter) in Turley, Oklahoma. J.R. and Claudia made their initial home in the Tulsa area after their marriage where they raised three children Rick, Chris and Doug. In 1962 J.R. joined the United States Army and soon transferred to the Army Reserve. He was later honorably discharged in 1964.

J.R. and Claudia remained in the Tulsa area until 1973 when they moved to the Lake Keystone Area. J.R. worked on the Keystone Dam Development and was employed with Arnold Paint and Body off and on from 1964 till the late 1990ís. When J.R. was not working in the paint and body industry he was driving his semi truck for several different companies including: PFT, Bonham and Cameron Glass Company.

J.R. and Claudia made the Keystone Lake/Cleveland Area their home until January of this year. J.R. accepted employment with Flint Ridge RV Park near Siloam Springs, Arkansas. J.R. was a member of the Westport Baptist Church in Keystone, Oklahoma. He also loved to fish, racing cars and work on old cars.

J.R. passed away Sunday November 30, 2003 at Siloam Springs, Arkansas at the age of 62 years 9 months and 25 days. He was preceded in death by father Ervin Vale Arnold.

Surviving are his loving wife, Claudia of the home; three children, Rick and wife Janie Arnold of Cleveland, Oklahoma; Chris and husband Darrell Moore of Jefferson City, Missouri; Doug and wife Holly Arnold of Franklin, Tennessee; four brothers, Mike and wife Mary Arnold of Rye, Colorado; Jimmy and wife Sherma Arnold of Cleveland, Oklahoma; Tony and wife Connie Arnold of Mulvane, Kansas; Duane and wife Susan Arnold of Ft. Worth, Texas; two sisters, Karol and husband Tom Duncan of Ft. Worth, Texas; Sally and husband Danny Guinn of Wichita, Kansas; mother, Marcellene Arnold of Cleveland, Oklahoma; seven grandchildren, Rachel, Jeffrey, Chloe, Megan, Mathew, Reece and Brent as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Services will be held Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at 11:00 am in the sanctuary of the Westport Baptist Church with Dr. Eugene Perry officiating. Burial will follow at the Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland, Oklahoma under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc.

Visit and online obituary and guestbook for J.R. Arnold at www.chapman-black.com.