Dale James Arnold

Dale J. Arnold passed away peacefully on 26 November 2025 at the age of 96, surrounded by family at Sparrow Hospital, after a short time in hospice care. He had been born there nearly 97 years earlier.

Dale was a lifelong member of the First Christian Disciples of Christ Church in Lansing, Michigan. He served in the U.S. Army Intelligence Agency during the Korean War and, with the GI Bill, attended Michigan State University. After returning from service, he married Joycalyn English, who was also a member of the church—they had exchanged letters during his time in the Philippines. They were married for 70 years.

He began his career as a staff writer for the Albion Evening Recorder until his friend and mentor George Weeks called him in 1957 to cover the Lansing Capital for the United Press Association—his dream job. In 1962-63 he was a Congressional Fellow for the American Political Science Association in Washington D.C. He went on to write for the Detroit Free Press. In 1964, he switched careers to work as News Director for Joe Maddy at the Interlochen Center for the Arts near Traverse City. From 1969-73 he served as Assistant Press Secretary for Governor William Milliken. He then Directed Information Services at Michigan State University, and finished his career as Deputy Director and Information Officer at the Michigan Department of Commerce. He retired in 1996.

Dale was a devoted tennis player and loved to travel by car on family vacations. Paul and Veda, Dale’s parents, built a rustic cottage on Crystal Lake, where he spent many summer days enjoying the family and recording stories about the founding of the Crystal Cottagers Association. Sometime this summer, the family will gather at our beloved lake to scatter his ashes.

He is survived by his wife, Joycalyn Arnold (English). Children Philip P. (Sandra Bigtree), Kathryn Proffitt, Tim (Gary Cruz). and Brian. Grandchildren Kroyden (Alicia), Clayborn and Luke. A memorial with family and close friends is being planned for later this year.

Residents of East Lansing, Michigan, are encouraged to consider donations in memory of Dale James Arnold to Crystal Lake Charities, accessible at https://crystallakecharities.org/.