Bill Arnold was born August 7, 1948 in Longview, Washington and passed away, at home, in the early hours of February 6, 2023.
Bill spent the early years of his life in Carrolls, Washington … moving with his family to Cascade Locks, Oregon (on the Columbia River) in 1952. Bill loved the Columbia River Gorge and as a child, spent many hours wandering the forest with his dog Teddy, fishing and enjoying life as a little kid. Bill graduated from Cascade Locks High School in 1966, went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad, where he worked until being drafted into the US Army. His life path then took him to Vietnam for a year, coming back home in the spring of 1970, blessed to have been spared physical injury. Bill always took his service to country seriously and was proud to be an American.
Bill’s interests were many…Avid “old car enthusiast” (loved to tinker, enter car club shows with his “40 Merc”, kick tires and talk shop with his fellow car buddies) … an avid sports fan - Mariners and Seahawks were, of course, favorites) ... always up for a game of golf with friends or family... always tinkering in his garage workshop. He was a MacGyver type of person – always able to assess a situation and figure out how to fix, repair or build something to solve a problem, usually out of scrap lumber, etc. …. He truly enjoyed the creative process.
As time marched on, life eventually led Bill to the Hearth products industry (Wood burning fireplaces/inserts, gas fueled fireplace/inserts, BBQ’s, etc.) … retail store salesperson, retail store owner, sales/department management for Associated Energy Systems (Wholesale distributor of hearth products/BBQ’s) for nearly 30 years. Bill’s always upbeat personality and knowledge of product and his honesty made him the ultimate salesman --- a family joke was that he could sell a block of ice to an Eskimo (and make a profit doing it). His AES family meant so much to him.
Love of family, however, was closest to heart. In 1970, Bill met Susie, neither realizing that they would eventually fall into a deep, everlasting love that would span nearly 42 years. A blended family, to include 5 kids, significant others, and 7 grandchildren will be in his heart forever.
Bill is survived by his wife, Susie; sons, Ben (Jelena) and Kris (Megan); daughter, Alisha; stepdaughters, Aimee and Kim (Scott); grandson, Carson; granddaughters, Jayla, Brooklyn, Jhurnii, Delanie, Adeline and Scarlett; sisters, Bobbi and Carrie and their families.
Bill was known to be a man who was not afraid to speak his mind when he felt it necessary, who was a kind, caring, loving, honest, intuitive, talented, devoted man and husband, father, stepdad, grandpa (papa) and friend.
(I wish you sunshine and stars and beautiful paths on this new journey. I love you, S.)
A celebration of life for Bill will be held Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4504 Broadway, Everett, WA 98203.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Evergreen-FH.com for the Arnold family.
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