Arla Joan English

Arla Joan English, nee Anderson, 80, of Punta Gorda, FL passed away February 16, 2010. She was born January 24, 1930 in New Castle, PA. Upon graduation, she joined the U.S Army which led her to meet her true love and soul mate Francis "Al" English. Their meeting was unique. Al, who had spotted Arla and thought, "This is the woman I'm going to marry" had his military friends "set up" Arla into meeting him. Al was an MP and had parked his jeep behind the barracks and Arla's Sergeant told her to do "whatever it took" to get Al and his friends off the grounds of the barracks. The promise of a date was what it took and three months later they were married. Arla had been told by several specialists that she would never be able to have children, but God saw fit to bless Arla and Al with not one child, but two. Their lives had been richly blessed by God and watched over by his Angels.

She is survived by loving sons, Richard Paul English and his wife Karen of Arlington, TX and Mark Francis English of Punta Gorda, FL; beloved granddaughter, Elizabeth Diana English of Arlington, TX; her sisters, Esther Barnes and Marion Harris, both of Port Charlotte, FL and Marlene Criswell of New Castle, PA; nieces and nephews, Michelle Barnes-Parker, Melinda Mimns, Jason Barnes, Renay Shaffer, Denise Caldaraia, Robby and Deborah Criswell, David Flynn, Allyn Harris, Lisa Turnquist, Tim English and David English, Jr; great nieces and nephews, KJ, Addy and Katerina Barnes and Josh and Justin Mimns. She was predeceased by her husband "Al" English and her sisters, Lil and Tessie.

There will be no services at this time. Burial will be next to her husband at Bay Pines National Cemetery, Bay Pines, FL.