William Maurice Arnold, affectionately known as Papa to his family and friends, entered eternal rest on the morning of January 21st, 2025. He was born on October 17, 1934 in Dayton, TN to Beulah Mae and William Cleo Arnold. He was a graduate of Rhea County High School and attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Maurice started his career at South Central Bell and ended up retiring from the same company after it had transitioned to AT&T. After retirement, he decided sitting at home wasn’t quite for him, so he went and worked many more years at Woody Electric Co. Maurice was a member of the Masonic Lodge, a member of the Gideons International and a lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers. He was a longtime member of Hixson United Methodist Church, serving in many capacities. He was a Sunday School teacher and was instrumental in getting the contemporary service started, serving as a greeter and usher for the River service. He was part of the Arnold Family Singers who had their own radio program in Dayton.
Maurice was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. If you could’t find him at home, you could probably find him at the ballfields. He was a baseball and softball coach for his son and daughter in their youth. He was a big part of establishing the Hixson Youth Athletic Association and coached there for years. As the years progressed you could find him watching his grandkids in all of their activities and didn’t slow down when grandkids became great grandkids, rarely missing a baseball, softball or football game or dance recital.
But the biggest love of his life was his beloved wife, Shirley. They were like opposite sides of the same coin; you never saw one without the other. They were married straight out of high school in a joint ceremony with his brother and sister in law 71 years ago. They were widely traveled, preferring Jackson Hole, Wy to anywhere else and they loved to go out west to be able to see their favorite big horn sheep; that is, if they weren’t traveling to watch a kid play a ball tournament somewhere, of course. Their marriage remains an example of steadfast love, trust and companionship to everyone who has had the honor of being in their company.
Maurice is preceded in death by his father Cleo, mother Beulah, brother Glenn and sister-in-law Ruby Arnold. He is survived by his precious wife, Shirley Kyle Arnold, son Mike (Rhonda), daughter Janet Combes (John), grandchildren Mandy Barnard (Matt), Laura Greene (Nathan), Kristi Elliott (Chris) and Matthew Combes and eight great grandchildren, Chase, Kaylen, Kinsley, Cadie, Easton, Rylee, Arik and Declan. He is also survived by his brother Doug Arnold (Joyce), sister Ellen Sue Rymer (Richard), who were not only siblings, but his best friends as well as several very special nieces and nephews
The family will receive friends Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM at Hixson United Methodist Church, 5301 Old Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343 followed by A Celebration of Life at 2:30 PM. Dr. Chuck Starks will officiate the service. Interment will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens, 5351 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343 immediately following the service.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com
