Arnold Ambrose Athey

Arnold "Arnie" Ambrose Athey was born on April 29, 1929, in Fairfield, CA, to John Paul and Lena Bonham Athey. He had four older brothers - Don, Vernon (Red), Alvin and Earl. Arnie attended local schools and graduated from Armijo High School in 1947. Arnie and Len Wink moved to San Francisco after graduation and worked for Pan American Airlines for one year before Arnie decided to return to school He enrolled in Vallejo Junior College.

The summer of 1950, many young men were being drafted into the Army. Arnie did not want to shoot people or be shot himself, so Arnie and five of his buddies joined the Navy. He spent two years stationed in San Diego and two years in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Navy discovered he could play basketball so he played 4 years for the Navy. He worked in the Fleet Personnel office, which distributed personnel to Navy units in the Pacific area. Arnie received an honorable discharge June of 1954. He enrolled in Fresno State College in September of 1954, where he majored in Education. He played basketball for the Bulldogs and worked part time. He met his future wife, June Harmon, at Fresno State. June and Arnie were married in September of 1957. They moved to Sacramento in September, 1958, after graduating and getting their teaching credentials. Arnie started teaching at Kit Carson High School and quickly fell in love with the school, its faculty, their curriculum and the students. Arnie and June had planned to live and teach in a small mountain town, but soon bought a lot and built their home in Sacramento.

Their family grew with the birth of their son Todd David in 1961, then their daughter Traci Lyn in 1970. Rick and Kerry Donohue joined their family in 1962. Phillip Paw came into the family circle in 1986.

Arnie loved the outdoors, camping, hunting, fishing and working outside. He poured cement, planted a yard with trees, plants and blooming flowers. In 1969, when Arnie and June bought a 19 1/2 foot self-contained travel trailer. They took over 100 trips with it, 2 of those trips were for over 5 weeks, each. Arnie encouraged his friends from Kit Carson, the Stix and family members to join his family camping trips whenever possible. Arnie was convinced to take a cruise by friend, Ron McKenna and liked it so much, he and June went on a dozen more.

He really liked officiating basketball games for the NCOA as it got him to get back in the game. Arnie retired from teaching after 32 years and took up golf. He loved the game and the people he met there. Memorial Weekend was working the Jazz Festival for 20+ years. He enjoyed music, especially the big band sound which he loved to dance to. Arnie was a very good cook and made delicious jam and wonderful waffles even at age 94. Arnie passed away peacefully on February 13, 2024, at his home in South Sacramento.