John William "J.W." Arnold Sr.

John William "J.W." Arnold Sr., 88, left this earth on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, surrounded by his family. Funeral: 1 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church of Burleson. Interment: Burleson Memorial Park. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Mountain Valley Funeral Home. Memorials: Renovation Building Fund at First United Methodist Church of Burleson. He was born June 19, 1923, in Goree to John Welch Arnold and Winnie Newton Arnold. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Marguerite Harris Arnold; and sister, Earline Arnold Lee. Mr. Arnold was a veteran of World War II and received numerous awards including the Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as technical sergeant in January 1946. After retirement, Mr. Arnold became active in numerous veterans' organizations in Burleson and Johnson County. He reorganized the Burleson American Legion serving as commander, was active in VFW and Purple Heart and had been the leader in interviewing and recording veterans' stories for the National Veterans History project and very involved in the Veterans' Bricks placed in the City Veterans Park in Burleson. He was also a 60-year Mason, member of the Burleson Heritage Foundation, and was an active member of the United Methodist Sojourners camping group. Mr. Arnold was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Burleson and Fellowship Sunday School Class. Survivors: His wife of 10 years, Mary Ruth Gordon Arnold; sister, Betty Atha of Brownwood; sons, John Arnold and wife, Lorraine, of Sylva, N.C., and Robert Arnold and wife, Judy, of Burleson; stepchildren, Elaine Light and husband, Don, of Southlake, H.C. Gordon and wife, Vickie, of Crowley, Rodney Gordon and Richard Malanga of New York, Richard Gordon and wife, Melinda, of Wichita Falls; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.