Services for Joyce D. Arnold, 90 of Central, will be held Saturday, August 4, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Gipson Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Wayne Bickley and Bro. Steve Cowart officiating. Interment will follow in Gann Cemetery.
Joyce was born March 1, 1928 near Rusk, Texas and died Thursday August 2, 2018 at her home in Central.
Joyce was salutatorian of her 1947 Gallatin, Texas High School class and worked at Nan Travis Hospital until her marriage in 1950 to Vernon Arnold. She always regretted not being able to attend college and was determined that her children would have the opportunity. Joyce worked at Lufkin State School from 1962-1966. She told her supervisor that she had decided to attend Nursing School in order to have a better paying job. Her supervisor told her she was too old to go back to school.
Joyce was graduated as salutatorian of her Nursing Class and all four children were graduated from college. Joyce retired from Memorial Hospital.
Joyce and her family had resided in Central (near Lufkin, Texas) since 1957, and she was a member of O’Quinn Baptist Church over 60 years. She was an excellent cook and known for her coconut cake.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Morris and Gale Arnold of Austin; her son, Marshall Arnold of Lufkin; her daughter, Marilyn Arnold of Central; her daughter Marlene Arnold of Lufkin; grandchildren: Mandy Leap, Joshua Arnold, Kristin Arnold; great-grandchildren: Ethan and Lincoln Leap; and a number of nieces and nephews. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Vernon Austin Arnold (1919-1994); her father William Jackson Bufford (1994-1936); her mother Georgia (Dean) Bufford Ward (1901-1988); sister Carrie Jacy Jenkins; brothers J.W. Bufford, James Edward Bufford, and Johnny Jackson Bufford.
The family would like to thank Dr. Carlton Lewis and his staff for many years of wonderful care, as well as the staff of Hospice in the Pines.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.
Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com
Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.
