Dr. Roger Kimberlin Arnold, PhD. passed away Sept. 2, 2020. He was born April 18, 1926, in Sulphur Springs, Texas, to John W. and Zora Gregg Arnold.
Roger graduated from Sulphur Springs High School. He received his Bachelor’s degree at East Texas State Teachers College and later attended Sam Houston State University, where he received his Master’s degree. Roger completed his doctorate at East Texas State University.
He married Jean Gipson on May 27, 1947, and they enjoyed 73 years together. Dr. Arnold served in the Navy during World War II on the communication ship USS El Dorado in the South Pacific. He saw the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.
Following the war, Roger taught high school agriculture at North Hopkins and Kilgore. He returned to Commerce to teach at East Texas State University in the Agriculture Education Department until retirement after 40 years in education. During his tenure, he served as a livestock judge for many years at the Texas State Fair and the Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio Livestock Shows. He was Professor Emeritus at Texas A&M University - Commerce. Roger enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons and friends, and was a cattle rancher into his 90s. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved him.
Dr. Arnold is survived by his wife of 73 years, Jean G. Arnold; sons: David Arnold of Royse City, Joe Arnold (Viki) of Wills Point and Dr. John Arnold (Stacy) of Fort Worth; granddaughters: Ashley Gray, Kerri McMahon, Grace Arnold and Claire Arnold; grandsons: Jack Carpenter, Sam Arnold, Gus Arnold and Brandon Tedder; great-grandchildren: Madison and Cooper Gray, Hannah and Riley McMahon, and Davis, Max, and Andi Jane Carpenter; nieces: Betty Ann Dodd and Lisa Touchstone; nephew: Mike Mitchell; and sister-in-law: Eoline Arnold.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother: Harold Arnold; sister: Elizabeth Mitchell; brother-in-law: Rothwell Mitchell, daughter-in-law: Glenda Arnold; and granddaughter: Brooke Tedder.
A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy., Dallas, TX 75211. Visitation of family and friends will take place prior to the service at the Rest Haven Funeral Home-Rockwall location from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The family requests contributions to: Dr. Roger and Mrs. Jean Arnold Agriculture Scholarship Endowment at https://lionpride.tamuc.edu/roger-arnold-scholarship. Checks can be made payable to the Texas A & M-Commerce Foundation and mailed to: TAMUC Foundation, P.O. Box 3425, Commerce, TX 75429-3425 with a note in the memo line for the Arnold Scholarship.
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