Edward Arnold

(From Parker Mortuary)

Edward Dean Arnold, age 66, Neosho, Missouri, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2015 at Freeman West Hospital.

Edward was born January 26, 1948 in West Plains, Missouri. Ed grew up in Fort Bragg, Oakdale, and Modesto, California. As a teenager, Ed was baptized in the Russian River in Mendocino, California, and was a faithful member of the Glenstone Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri for many years. Edward attended Modesto Junior College, the University of California at Santa Barbara, and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Science from Sonoma State University.

Ed worked as a park ranger at Clear Lake State Park in California where he led camp fire activities, and developed educational programs throughout the park. Edward loved the outdoors, and gardening. He worked as a building contractor in California, and Missouri. While in Springfield and Joplin, Ed worked in the Insurance and Investment planning business for many years. Following his passion for science and teaching, he earned his teaching credentials, and taught science and math in Missouri and Kansas. His favorite hobbies were working on his family land in Diamond, and playing golf, reading, and music.

Edward is survived by his wife, Barbara, and their three children and four grandchildren; Rachel Riediger and husband John and their children, Abigail and Asa; son, Nathaniel Arnold and his wife Kimberly and their children, Keagan and Declan; and Elizabeth Enslow and husband Christopher with a child on the way; his mother, Ruby Kring; sister, Phyllis Russ and husband William; brother, Ronald Arnold and wife Carol; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Friday, January 9, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel. Interment will follow in Osborne Memorial Cemetery with family serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at Parker Mortuary on Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House of Joplin care of Parker Mortuary.