Josephine Irene Arney

To family, she was always “Jo.”

Jo graduated from Sacramento High School with honors, graduating in 2 ½ years. After high school, Jo went to work as a cook and a waitress, where she met and married her first husband, John (Jack) Ronald White in 1941. Within months of being married, Jack was deployed while serving in the Army Air Corps during WW II. While in the hospital giving birth to their son John, Jo received notification of Jack’s death. Jack had died as a prisoner of war during the Bataan Death March.

As a single mother, Jo became a Seaman (Stewardess) with the Merchant Marines from 1942 to 1945. The ships she was assigned to departed from the Wilmington, Embarcadero, San Francisco, Sausalito, Alameda and Hunter’s Point shipyards and transported the shipyard crew, navy personnel and servicemen across the San Francisco Bay. There she met and married her second husband, William J. Arney, who was serving in the United States Marine Corps. After Bill was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1945, Jo and Bill moved to Fort Wayne to care for Bill’s aging mother. After relocating to Indiana, Bill adopted John. Jo and Bill had three more children: David, JoAnn & Pattie.

Jo served as a past President of the local Marine Corps Auxiliary, past member of the American Legion Post 18, Girl Scout Troop Leader as well as a Trainer of other Girl Scout Leaders, and Teacher’s Assistant at Franklin School.

At the age of 46, Jo pursued a career in nursing and enrolled in the School of Practical Nursing with the Fort Wayne Community Schools. She graduated as an LPN at the top of her class, serving as a mentor to her much younger classmates. After graduation, Jo began her career as an LPN with the St. Joseph Hospital.

Most will remember Jo as a truly humble, generous and giving person. Her passion was knitting, crocheting & needlepoint, which she passed on to her two daughters, as well as sewing. She would welcome anyone into her home, but they could not leave without a gift she had made “especially” for them—usually a scarf, booties, a dishrag or a hat. And, you never left hungry! One of her favorite holidays was Halloween--she would sit all evening on her front porch with her fur coat on holding two baskets, one filled with handmade dishrags and the other filled with little bags of assorted candies. When the trick-or-treaters would come, the kids would get a bag of treats, and the adults would each get a handmade dishrag.

Jo is survived by her sons, John Arney and David (Marti) Arney; her daughters, JoAnn Vernon and Pattie (Bruce) Davenport, and daughter-in-law Regina Arney. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren: Dean and Scott Arney; Adam (Janean) Vernon, Todd (Joan) Vernon, Brittney (Andrew) Costabile, and Tommi (Craig Hoggatt) Vernon; Jacqueline (Mike) Ostrowski and Theresa Vendrely; and, Bill (Lauren) Davenport. Jo was also survived by 25 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. She leaves behind two of her beloved rescue cats, Pretty Boy and Pretty Girl, who obviously miss her very much already.

Jo was predeceased in death by her parents; her husband of 62 years, Bill Arney (2007); daughter-in-law, Debbie Arney; son-in-law, Tom Vernon; sister, Shirley Richards; nephew, Gary Richards; grandsons, Shane Davenport and Bryan Arney; and, great-grandson, William Vernon.

Due to the current restrictions, there will be no services at this time. Although Jo deserves so much more, a private graveside service will be provided for her immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest a donation to Parkview Hospice, 1900 Carew Street, Suite 6, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805, ATTN: Nancy. Please indicate that the donation is “In Memory of Josephine Arney” for the exceptional care, compassion and support Hospice provided. Arrangements have been entrusted to D. O. McComb and Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home, 1320 East Dupont Road, Fort Wayne.