In Passing: Charles “Chuck” Arnold

By Montecito Journal   |   May 7, 2020
Chuck Arnold

He was born in Lexington, Illinois to Alma and Gayle Arnold. He spent his early years on a farm near Lexington, graduating from Lexington High School in 1940. Chuck entered the University of Illinois, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He participated in the ROTC program and was called to active duty in July of 1943 and entered into the Army Engineer Corps. While on temporary duty at the U of I in late 1943 Chuck met Viola McCord, who was a student. They married in 1944 and were together for 66 years until her death in 2011. His time in service was mostly spent in the Pacific Theatre with Chuck’s final commission at MacArthur’s Headquarters in Tokyo.

Chuck returned to the U of I in 1945 to finish his Engineering Degree in 1947. He and Viola migrated to California in 1948 where he joined the Schlumberger Well Surveying Corp. as a field engineer. Chuck resigned in 1956 to join Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co as a financial representative in the Los Angeles area. In 1960, the Arnold family moved to Santa Barbara where Chuck represented Northwestern Mutual Life in Santa Barbara until retiring in 2012. He was a charter member of several insurance and financial organizations in Santa Barbara. At various times, Chuck was a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, the Montecito YMCA, as well as other organizations. Chuck was a member of the El Montecito Presbyterian Church for 60 years and a member of the Montecito Rotary Club for 25 years. He had a love of sports cars and owned many over the years, which he enjoyed restoring, driving, and selling.

Chuck is survived by his children, David, Diane, Joan, and Christopher and their spouses, his grandchildren Nicole and Zachary, as well as, from his later years, his best friend Joy.

At his request, there will be no memorial service. His ashes are at sea; send a hello, when you walk the beach.

 

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