Juanita Jeanette Arrington

On a warm summer day in 1947, Juanita McCallum was mopping the hardwood floors, barefooted, when a handsome young former sailor knocked on the door. Harold Arrington, for that was his name, was visiting his aunt who lived across the street from the McCallums, and had sent him to borrow a cup of sugar. Juanita was mortified to be seen mopping the floors barefooted. Harold was smitten. He asked her out, and that began a love that lasted almost 57 years.

Born just four years before the Great Depression began, Juanita Jeanette McCallum, along with her brothers and sister, grew up in those hard times. They were never without food, however, since their father, Virgil worked for the Schepps brothers who had bakeries, dairies, and breweries. Virgil always had work and eventually retired from Schepps after fifty years.

A teenager when World War II broke out, Juanita and her girlfriends attended local USO parties for servicemen as often as possible, double-dating to make the most of gas rationing. After the war, things became less lively until the day when Harold showed up.

Harold and Juanita married that October and began their lives together. They brought three children into the world, James Lee, Walter Theodore, and Nancy Jane, all three of whom now survive them. In addition, there are five grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren and innumerable nieces and nephews.

Harold and Nita enjoyed years of struggling to make ends meet, and years of plenty. There was a lake cabin and motorboat, fishing, camping, and of course childrens’ school activities. And many of us remember their sprawling place in Midlothian where they lived in retirement and often welcomed large gatherings of family to come and camp under the trees for family reunions.

Harold left us in 2004, and now so has Juanita. But they also left behind fond memories of happier times than these. Just ask about Grandmother’s false teeth, or the time Harold tried to start a business raising earthworms for bait shops. Probably there are many other stories each of us could share about fun times we had around Harold and Juanita. Now, they are united once again. And to think it all began with just a cup of sugar.