Charles L. Arnold, Jr.

Charles Lawrence Arnold, Jr., 74, who owned and operated Arnold’s Funeral Homes in Canton and Lewistown, Mo., passed away suddenly Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Il.

The son of Charles Lawrence and Margaret Alice Coder Arnold, Sr. was born on August 31, 1942 at Hannibal, Missouri.

He was united in marriage to Nancy Jean Youngblood on October 29, 1963 in Park Place Baptist Church at Houston, Texas.

Charles was lifelong resident of Lewistown and he began working around the funeral home at an early age. He graduated from Lewistown High School in 1960 and attended Hannibal-LaGrange College. He then graduated from the Commonwealth College of Funeral Sciences in Houston, Texas in 1963. He has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Missouri since 1965 and Illinois since 1985.  He also owned and operated Arnold’s Paint and Glass for many years.             

He was a member and Deacon of the First Baptist Church of Lewistown. A Past President and Director of the Northeast Missouri Funeral Directors Association, and a past board member of the Missouri Funeral Directors Association. He was involved in his community in many organizations and activities, serving as President, Secretary, Treasurer or Board Member including the Highland Booster Club, Lewistown Cemetery Association, United Way Board of the Mark Twain Area, L.E.M.O. Recreational Association, Mississippi Valley Baseball Association, Lewistown Senior Housing Board, Lewistown Volunteer Fire Department and more recently a board member of the Western Lewis County Fire Protection District, Monticello Masonic Lodge #58 A.F. & A.M., Lewistown Vikings Club, and he was a member of the Lewistown Lions Club, Lewistown Jaycees Club, and the Lewis County Chapter of the American Heart Association.  He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 175, where he received his Vigil Honor of the Order of the Arrow, served as Crow Chapter Advisor of the Nampa-Tsi Lodge, and received the Wood Badge Leadership Award, and he coached Pee Wee and Little League baseball many summers.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy J. Arnold of Lewistown, Mo., three sons, James L. (Carla) Arnold of Canton, Mo., Robert M. (Pam) Arnold of LaGrange, Mo. and Charles M. (Betsy) Arnold of Troy, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Aron, Gavin, Samuel, Carter, Reagan, Rhen and Micah Arnold; a sister, Mrs. Charlene Kelsick of Grandin, Mo.; a brother, Thomas (Thelma) Arnold of LaBelle, Mo.; and several nieces & nephews, great nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Ralph Kelsick.

Funeral services will be held Monday, June 26, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church of Lewistown with Rev. Ted Middleton and Dr. Elmer McCully officiating.  Burial will be in the Lewistown Cemetery.  Firefighter Honors will presented by the Fire Departments of Lewis County and the Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistant Team.

Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 PM until 7 PM at the First Baptist Church of Lewistown with a Masonic Service at 2 PM.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Lewistown or the Lewistown Cemetery Association.

Pallbearers: Richard Blackmore, Phil Murfin, Tom Fleer, Tim Fleer, Aaron Lay, Doug Vaughn, Otis Smith, Wes Sharpe and Travis Fleer.

Honorary Pallbearers: Dick Vaughn, Kent VanMeter, Kenny Stice, Leland Phillips, Delmar Klataske, Deacons and Men of the First Baptist Church of Lewistown and Members of the Western Lewis County Fire Department.