Obituary for Robert “Bob” Wayne Arnold

A celebration of life service for Robert “Bob” Wayne Arnold will be held at a later date. The Price-McElroy Funeral Home in Mt. Victory is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Bob passed away on Sunday, July 27. 2025, at Lima Memorial Hospital. He was born on January 16, 1939, in Wyandot County, Marseilles, Ohio to the late Lawrence David and Edna (Carruthers) Arnold. He married Sylvia Barrett in San Diego, California in 1959, and became the father of Robert T. Arnold and James David Arnold. In 1962, Bob brought his sons back to Marseilles and the Kill Deer area to his family farm.

On December 24, 1965, Bob married Pamelia Kay Gibson, and she survives in Mt. Victory, where the family has lived for almost 60 years together. Also surviving are 3 sons; Robert T. Arnold of North Port, Florida, James David Arnold of Berea, Ohio with his wife Kimberly Evelyn Arnold, Lonnie Allen Arnold of Ridgeway, Ohio and a daughter, Robyn Lynn Arnold who lives in Kenton with her friend Michael Steele, grandchildren; Ashley Marie Arnold of Bradenton, Florida, Robert Wayne Arnold of North Olmsted, Ohio with his wife Megan Arnold, Hannah Evelyn Arnold of Parma Hts. along with her fiancé Tristan Calvin., Jacob P. Arnold of Austin Texas, James Stephens Arnold of Cleveland and Dalton Allen Arnold of Kenton, great grandchildren; Mason Palmer Shook of Bradenton, Florida, Samuel Arnold of North Olmsted, Ohio, Xander Allen Arnold of Kenton, and Lilith Calvin of Parma Hts., Ohio.

In 1956, Bob joined the United States Navy and received basic training in Illinois before moving to the Naval base in the state of Washington. His service was from 1956 through 1959 while serving on the USS Kearsarge, a carrier who served in the Pacific Fleet. Bob served during the Formosa Crisis.

When his service time was over, he worked various jobs until he became employed by a large Super X Drug King in San Diego and served as the night supervisor for two years.

In 1962, Bob returned to Killdeer Plains and the home farm where he brought his two small sons to live. Bob had various jobs after returning to Ohio. He worked at the Marion Train Depot, delivered milk for Borden’s in Marion, Ohio then went on to work at the John Deere Tractor in Upper Sandusky, Ohio as a diesel mechanic. At this point he got a job at Rockwell International in Kenton where he worked for 30 years. His time at Rockwell was working machines, then at the end of his time there he was Quality Control for new parts coming into the plant. Bob retired in August, of 1995, after 30 years and went to work with an old friend and buddy Lynn Elsasser who was a local carpenter/builder. They worked together for a few years then Bob went to work for Hale Township Trustees and cared for all the cemeteries in Hale Township. He was there for 10 years, almost then retired from outside jobs and worked with his fine wood creations.

Over the years Bob did many, many things like; coaching a Little League Baseball team in Ridgemont School District of which his sons were a part of, he assisted with Boy Scout Troop #189 in Mt. Victory, and he was a member of the VFW 6817 of Mt. Victory, and held office in such, Bob spent years as a member of the Athletic Boosters at Ridgemont which required a lot of hours as President during the annual Coon Chase that allowed the group to earn funds for athletic equipment for the Ridgemont teams. He also raised rabbits reaching up to 200 rabbits in the barn in one year. His children showed rabbits in 4H for many years and were Grand Champion each year until they aged out of the system. Bob loved to hunt rabbits, foxes and turkeys and he also loved to fish.

In the early 1990’s he opened an antique shop with a friend in Mt. Victory and did this for many years.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be given to the Mt. Victory United Methodist Church where he was a very active member. He helped to grow the church, install a three-level elevator in the church, help remodel the parsonage not once but twice and became a lasting face of activities at the church including his great chili soup and vegetable soup which were all homemade.

Online condolences may be expressed at pricefh.net.