James Levon Arnold

James Levon Arnold, lived a long and fulfilling life. He was 93 years-old on Sunday morning, March 3, 2024 when he moved out of his earthly home and went on to his heavenly home, "the land that knows no parting." He is joyfully walking side by side and "hand in hand again" with his family and loved ones who preceded him including his parents, brothers, many friends, and his beloved wife of nearly 50 years, Ann. He was a good man, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend.

James was born on Sunday, July 6, 1930 in Shelbyville, Tennessee, to his father Thomas Arnold and mother Lela Arnold. As a child growing up on Sayre Street in Montgomery, Alabama, he was the youngest of three brothers (Jesse Arnold, Harold O. Arnold) and always seemed a step ahead for his age (as his World War 2 registration card reflects).

During his early years his beloved mother taught him how to read with a King James Bible. He learned to play piano in the Baptist church, started drawing, and started his very first business shining shoes. Hank Williams Sr. taught him how to build his shoe shine box and few years later he played in Hank's band in front of some of their earliest crowds. His formative years marked the beginnings of adventure and love for art, music, learning, airplanes, and nature.

After honorably serving in the U.S. Navy he returned home to Montgomery where he successfully gained work drafting for the architectural firm Sherlock, Smith and Adams where he assisted during the construction of Garrett Coliseum. In the pursuit of adventure he became a professional motorcycle racer winning and placing in races regularly throughout his career traveling to different states. Later, Evel Knievel would reach out to him about proposed stunts being performed at the same coliseum he had assisted in constructing.

As a self-employed business owner and artisan he successfully worked in carpentry, custom decorative glass, painting and wallpapering. Arnold honed his abilities to a well-practiced tradesman and found further successes in billboard design and commercial sign painting, and opened Arnold Floor Coverings, c. 1960. He built and opened Riverside Speedway, home of the Big Dixie National Race, a venue with grandstands and fully lighted track where motorcycle racers competed during the 1960's and 70's.

As a pilot, Arnold worked various operations professionally across several parts of the world. For leisure he would fly to Fort Walton Beach in his restored PT-19.

Jimmy enjoyed playing and performing music throughout his life professionally and for enjoyment. He entertained on piano throughout his lifetime and could boogie-woogie with the best. He especially loved playing his Alvarez 5014 acoustic guitar and his Gibson RB250 banjo with his bluegrass group. Beginning in the late 80's and throughout the 90's, still working, his life's work began to shift moreso toward mentorship for self-employed businessmen. His life experience, ability to teach, and ability to communicate supplied resources to the lives of fellow entrepreneurs and predominant businessmen. He was known for his unique way of drawing creative thinking out of men and inspiring them to think and face challenges with courage.

He worked and mentored throughout the remainder of his life and took on further endeavors learning the skills of oil painting as "Shiloh the Artist" and was featured in various publications, galleries, showcases and won awards. He loved gardening and looked forward to the spring every year when he would work in his garden and grow batches of delicious tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables. He loved to lay in the sun and work on his tan.

He loved taking his grandchildren, nephews and nieces through the woods on adventures to walk the creek and discover arrowheads. He taught his grandchildren how to draw, paint, play piano and helped cultivate a love of music. He would show up on Saturday mornings will all kinds of surprises for his grandchildren including musical instruments, anything with wheels you could ride on, and all sorts of wild things—one day “Papa” showed up with a huge turtle that was as big as a dog and nearly as fast, and set it free in the backyard!

James was a teacher to teachers. A mentor to mentors. Courage for the discouraged. Loved by many men, feared by some, and respected by all. He was a father to the fatherless. He had a warrior's fight, and demonstrated the gentleness and love of a man who truly knows God.

I will shew thee my faith by my work. -James 2:18

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James Levon Arnold is preceded by his beloved wife, Ann, with whom he shared nearly 50 years of his life together with. He is also preceded by his father Thomas Arnold, beloved mother Lela Arnold, whom he adored, his brothers Jesse and Harold O. Arnold, Sr., and one of his favorite people in the world, his nephew Hal (Harold Arnold, Jr.); he is also preceded by his son-in-law, Gary Stripling, who he said of not long before his passing, "I miss him."

James "Jimmy" Arnold is survived by many family and friends. He was a faithful loving father to his son, Matthew Arnold, and his daugher Linda Carol Stripling whom he loved both dearly. He loved his grandchildren (Walker Stripling, Sarah Garner) and was known to them, their spouses (Olivia, Trey Garner), and many of their friends, family members and Walker's construction crews as "Papa." He loved his many great-grandsons (Runner Stripling; Ford, Jones, and Hobbs Garner) and his precious great-granddaughter (Helms Garner). "Uncle Jimmy" loved his many nephews and nieces: nephew (Michael Arnold) and niece (Lisa), his great nephews and nieces (Harold Arnold, III., Eric, Jacqueline, Rebecca) and their spouses, children and grandmother (Sarah Arnold).

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A memorial service will be held in honor of his life. In lieu of sending flowers, gifts or donations, Jimmy would rather you give them to your own family and friends, and above all tell them that you love them and let them know you want them to “Do good.”