James W. "Jim" Arnold

Services for James W. “Jim” Arnold, 87, of Tyler will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in the Green Acres Baptist Church Worship Center with Dr. David Dykes and Rev. Ben Simpson officiating. A private burial will take place at Ebenezer Cemetery in Arp, Texas, under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Arnold passed away Saturday, January 19, 2019 in Tyler. He was born February 8, 1931 in Arp to Loys Arnold and Clara Woolf Arnold. Jim graduated from London High School in 1948, as class valedictorian and captain of the football team. After high school he attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with honors in 1952 and receiving a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of Sigma-Tau National Engineering Honorary Society. Always a hard worker, he worked during his college years, and in the summers as a roughneck. After graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Bessie Nell Hazzard, on July 19, 1952. They would be partners in life for over 66 years. They settled in Tyler and Jim went to work for Woolf & Magee, Inc., an oil and gas drilling contractor, as a Drilling Engineer. He rose to the position of president and owned the company until he sold it in 1991. He loved his work in the drilling business and invested in oil and gas ventures over the years. In 1973, Jim was elected President of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Drilling Contractors. He served on the boards of the American Petroleum Institute and the National Petroleum Council. Jim was also a founding director of Heritage National Bank in Tyler. Jim lived for over 66 years in Tyler, a community he loved and served in many ways. He was a dedicated blood donor, and at one time held the record for the most pints donated to Stewart Regional Blood Center. He served as Chairman of its Board of Directors for several years. Jim was President of the Board of Directors of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. In 1985, he received the T.B. Butler Award to recognize his outstanding leadership in the community. He was President of the Texas Rose Festival Association and the Order of the Rose. Other boards which he served were: The Tyler Junior College Foundation, East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System (Chairman, 1989), The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler Development Board, and the London Ex-Students Reunion and Memorial Association, Inc. After serving as Chairman of the District 2A Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas, he received the Liberty Bell Award from the Smith County Bar Association. Jim enjoyed football and officiated high school football games for over 22 years in East Texas. He served as President of the Tyler Chapter of the Southwest Football Officials Association. He spent many seasons watching his son and grandsons play football. He also enjoyed deer hunting at the family deer lease near Harper, Texas. Jim and Bess were members of Green Acres Baptist Church for almost 45 years, where he served as Deacon Emeritus. He was led by his strong Christian faith and was a generous man of strong character and a tender heart. He was dedicated to his family whom he loved and encouraged. Jim set a great example for his family during his illness, as he never complained. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Richard Arnold; and his sister-in-law, Lee Arnold. He is survived by his loving family including wife, Bessie Arnold; daughter, Sherry Simpson (Tim) of Tyler; son, Keith Arnold (Mary) of Frost, Texas; daughter, Jamie Landes (Drew) of Tyler; daughter, Mollie Winston (Dan) of Gainesville, Georgia; grandsons, Ben Simpson, Walter Simpson, James Arnold, Stephen Arnold, Jonathan Arnold, John Landes, Jimmy Landes, Will Landes, and A.D. Winston; granddaughters, Melissa Arnold, Nellie Simpson Dunn, Bessie Winston, and Lilly Winston; and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Paul Arnold of Tyler and sister-in-law, Barbara Arnold of Arp, as well as a niece, nephews, and several cousins. The grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Green Acres Baptist Church Deacons. Visitation is scheduled from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. The Arnold family would like to express our thanks to Jim’s doctors, Dr. Steve Keuer and Dr. Allen Wegener, for their excellent care, and a special thanks to Roz Williams and Janie May Hardin for their kindness. If desired, memorials may be made to the New London School Museum, P.O. Box 477, New London, TX 75682 or the Bethesda Health Clinic, 409 W. Ferguson St., Tyler, TX 75702.

James W. "Jim" Arnold

February 8, 1931 - January 19, 2019