Leora M. Arnold

March 6, 1921, Leora Sarah McConnell was born. On June 5, 2013, she went back to heaven peacefully to be with her beloved husband, "Pete". Leora was born to Clarence and Hope (West) McConnell in Nyssa, OR. Leora lost her mother too soon in 1930, and her father too soon after that. Her maternal grandparents raised her until she and sister, AnnaVee, were moved to Seattle to live with her mother's sister, Crystal and her husband, Wayne C. Meek. She graduated from Ballard High School in 1938, and was awarded a four year scholarship to Seattle Pacific College, now a University. During her sophomore year, she met her future husband and fellow student in a psychology class. He was Edison F. "Pete" Arnold. Leora didn't know his given name for quite some time, as she only new him as Pete. But prior to Pete's junior year, he joined the service and after completing his pilot training, he was commissioned as a Second Lt. and came home to marry his sweetheart on June 28, 1942, as they could not wed until she was 21 and had graduated from SPC, of which she was a Member of the "Society of Fellows" for her outstanding support. Children came along; Wayne in 1944, Bruce in 1953, dying as an infant; and Susan, who was adopted at three days old in 1957. During Pete's duty in Guam, Leora used her degree to teach school, teaching Math and English in Seattle. She was a very active military wife; with every base came a new position on committees, Officer's Wives Clubs, Family Services, Den Mother, Scout Master, Teen Club advisor and Nurses Aide programs. Leora spearheaded a swim club for the disabled children of military families during their last tour of duty while in Texas in 1970. Pete thought of his wife as serving the country as much as he did, just in a different way. So, for her patriotism he requested the American flag drape her casket. Oddly enough her services are being held on Flag Day; how special is that! They saw the world, skiing in Muren, Switzerland, the tulip festival in Holland and Weisbaden Germany, where she started her Hummel collection. But the rest of the world was not as wonderful as coming home to the Northwest after Pete's retirement in 1971. They reconnected with friends and family while living in Bellevue and moved to Wenatchee in 1974. Again, Leora became just as involved with life here as she had done before with Pete. She joined the Women of Rotary and earned a Paul Harris Fellow for "Service Above Self". Both Leora and Pete had served in Rotary for 38 years. In 1977, they were on the move again to Twisp for a few years, looking after their property at Lost River and helping in developing the Methow, before moving back to make Wenatchee their permanent home. Leora was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and was just as active as Pete; from snowmobiling to camping, fishing to traveling, even getting her student pilot's license at the age of 54. She always said, "I'd rather fly around the world than drive around the block with your father." Now she and Pete won't skip a beat, as their 71st Anniversary is June 28 and Bruce was born 60 years ago on June 23; how blessed she is now. Survivors are son, Wayne F. Arnold and wife, Lonnie of Tracy, CA; daughter, Sue Waller and husband, Kirby of East Wenatchee, WA; six grandchildren, Erin Honeycutt of Spokane, WA, Merideth Chaudoir and husband, Joel of Underhill, VT, Kathleen Wenzl and husband, Don of Port Angeles, WA, Wayne E. Arnold of Tracy, CA, Kory Waller of Cashmere, WA, and Zachery Waller of East Wenatchee, WA; and five great-grandchildren, Cameron Honeycutt, Cooper Honeycutt, Olive Chaudoir, Madelyn Wenzl and Delaney Wenzl. She was preceded in death by her husband, Pete; aunt, Crystal; uncle, Wayne Meek; sisters, Irene and Marjorie; and son, Bruce. Donations to her favorite charities would be appreciated: Seattle Pacific University, 3307 Third Avenue West, Suite #304, Seattle, WA 98119; and GAP, INTL, P.O. Box 27112, Overland Park, KS 66225-7112. A Funeral Service will be held Friday, June 14, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. at Wenatchee Free Methodist Church, 1601 Fifth Street, Wenatchee. Concluding Services and Interment will follow at the Wenatchee City Cemetery. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Leora M. Arnold

March 6, 1921 - June 5, 2013