Melvin was born June 22, 1943, in Quinlan, Texas to Jessie Elijah and Dollie Mae (Ketner) Arnold. He grew up in Quinlan with his 5 brothers and 3 sisters.
He was perpetually working with his hands either working on cars, machining, or building something. Always the entrepreneur he operated a filling station, machine shop, and built houses with his brothers.
On February 14, 1971, he married Lisa Houser and built their family home on Lake Tawakoni. There he raised his son Jessie, daughter Shannon, stepdaughter Tanya, and grandson Jimmy “Scooter”. He owned and managed his service and gas station in West Tawakoni until the early 1980s. After selling the business he went back to building houses with his brothers when tragedy struck in the form of a traumatic brain injury in 1985. After years of therapy, he recovered and started machining printing presses. He was self-taught at almost everything he did, a mechanical genius some would say. His printing press and die-cutting business allowed him the opportunity to travel the world until he retired in 2008.
Melvin was a proud member of his community and put in countless hours supporting the many events and causes that benefited the Quinlan / West Tawakoni area. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of directors for many years.
Melvin loved his family more than anything. He also enjoyed treasure hunting, horse racing, and playing in the casinos. He was one of the luckiest gamblers around. He was a father figure to many teen boys that worked with him and friends of his children. He had a great sense of humor and loved to play practical jokes. He always sang, mostly off-key, and lived life to the fullest. He definitely had a life well lived.
He was proceeded in death by his parents; son Jessie Leon Arnold; brothers Charles Ray Arnold and Earl Nathaniel Arnold; and sister Ellen Rose Moffitt.
He is survived by his loving wife: Lisa Houser Arnold; daughter: Shannon Arnold Foltz; sisters: Sue Lewis & Pam Bevers; brothers: Curtis Arnold and wife Cora, Doyle Arnold and wife Verda, Walter Arnold and wife Peggy; grandsons: Jimmy “Scooter” VanHuss, Jr., Lesley Arnold, Brandon Yabusaki and wife Sasha, Eric Yabusaki and wife April, Hayden Foltz; granddaughter Jessica Arnold Laney and husband Jason; great-grandchildren: Lilly Laney, Sophia Laney, Evelyn Laney, Kayleigh Yabusaki, Artemus Paul Yabusaki; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Mr. Arnold’s funeral will be held on Sunday, April 2nd, at 2 pm at Lynch Funeral Service in Greenville, Texas. Visitation will take place at 1 pm before the funeral ceremony. Pastor Ron Hight of Cornerstone Community Church will lead the services for the family. Melvin will be interred at the Quinlan West Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked to please consider donating to the Tawakoni Area Library or the Alzheimer’s Association – act.alz.org/donate
