Elizabeth May Arnold

Elizabeth May Arnold, 97, of Houston, died Tuesday, February 8, 2022, in McMurray Hills Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

She was born August 9, 1924, in Washington, a daughter of Robert Sprowls and May Sites Arnold.

Ms. Arnold attended Houston Grade School and graduated from Canonsburg High School in 1942.  She attended Muskingum College for two years and graduated from Westminster College in 1946 with her bachelor’s degree.

After her graduation, she worked in Pittsburgh for a year and she vowed to never work somewhere that she couldn’t walk to.  She then worked for her family’s business, Arnold Pontiac in Houston, as an accountant from 1947 to 1953.  She enjoyed working for the family business as it was next door to where she lived. From 1953 to 1960, she worked for Battelle Institute in Columbus, OH, where she first worked as an auditor and then worked in area development studies.

On January 2, 1961, following months of evaluation and training, she was sworn in as a member of the Foreign Service in the State Department of the United States in Washington D.C.  She first was assigned as a Consular to the American Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, then the American Embassy in Paris, France, and the American Consulate Montreal, Canada.  She returned to the United States and worked for five years in the Overseas Bureau of Consular Affairs in Washington D.C. She then traveled to work in Tokyo, Japan, Manilla, Philippines, and Hong Kong before returning to Washington D.C. and retiring in May of 1986.

She was a former member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Houston and presently a member of the First United Methodist Church of Houston.

Ms. Arnold was a member of the American Foreign Services Association.

She enjoyed gardening and walking.  Walking was her hobby that started as nature walks but continued as daily walks to wherever she wanted.  She loved that she was able to walk to everywhere she needed in Houston.  Her walking became her exercise and she found it very relaxing.

Surviving are: a sister, Nancy Kidder (Dennie) of Washington; four nephews, Samuel Reed Arnold (Barbara), William Keith Arnold, Robert S. Arnold Jr. (Kim), and Dwight E. Kidder (Dana); four nieces, Susan Boyer, Ruth May Zarger (Tony), Shirley White (Rev. David), and Lauren Kim Arnold, and many great nieces and nephews.

Deceased are: three brothers, Samuel Arnold, Carl Lee Arnold, and Robert S. Arnold Sr.; and a sister, Mary Louise Buckels.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 on Thursday in McIlvaine-Speakman Funeral Home Ltd., Robert K. McIlvaine, owner/supervisor, 27 Cherry Ave., Houston, PA 15342, where a service will be held at 10 AM on Friday, February 18, 2022, with Rev. Melody Kimmel officiating.  Interment will follow in Oak Spring Cemetery, Canonsburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Houston, 213 E Pike Street, Houston, PA 15342 or to a charity of ones’ choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elizabeth May Arnold, please visit our floral store.