Richard Arnold Arms

Richard Arnold Arms, M.D., “Rich”, “Doc”, an internist and pulmonologist, passed away peacefully at Kansas City Hospice House on June 30, 2025. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, physician, colleague, mentor, and loyal friend. People remark that, “He was a great man who touched so many lives and helped so many people,” and that, “He was always there for me.”

Rich was born May 21,1940 to Dr. Arnold Valenzuela Arms and Alice Wells Arms in Detroit, Michigan. He met Carol Schmucker walking down the Hill at KU in 1961, and they were married September 25, 1965.

From being active in several high school sports, to “pursuing the wily morel,” to winning chili cookoffs, to creating beautiful mosaics and ceramics, to expertly diagnosing and comforting his patients, he didn’t miss a thing. He was well known for his elaborate and often corny joke du jour. He loved to relax by traveling and fishing, and with Carol, he made multiple trips to Alaska; the Pacific Northwest; Islamorada; Fairview, Michigan; Mexico; and the Caribbean. He even fished the Riviera.

Rich graduated from Pembroke-Country Day School (1958), the University of Kansas (Beta Theta Pi) with his BA in Zoology (1962) and earned his MD from the University of Kansas Medical School (1966). He served a Mixed Medical internship at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan (1967) and during the Vietnam War was a General Medical Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service (1967-1969). His training continued at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota with his Internal Medicine Residency (1969-1971) and Pulmonary Disease Fellowship (1971-1973). He earned his Board Certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine, FACP American College of Physicians, and was a member of American College of Chest Physicians and Metropolitan Medical Society of Greater Kansas City. He volunteered at the Free Health Clinic. He loved private practice, hospice, and his patients, and actively practiced for 44 years, first in Denver, Colorado, then in the Greater Kansas City area. He often was paid with homemade pies, fruit and vegetables from gardens, and once, rhubarb wine.

Rich is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol; his sister, Demaris Hansen, PhD (Eric) and their children, Michael and Shawn Luby; his daughter-in-law, Cheryl Arms and Rich’s grandchildren, Avi Arms and Shaylan Ben-Hanania; brother-in-law, Paul Schmucker and his children, Julie Roberts (Daniel) and Paul; sister-in-law, Linda Arms and children, Kathy Wallace (Stephan), Keri Brock (Wesley), Alison Mengel (Eric), Billy Hall, and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, David; grandson, Leeor; brother, Robert, DDS; and sister-in-law, Carolyn Schmucker.

Special thanks to dear, constant friends, Gordon and Cheryl Lormor; and to Alex Deemer for assisting Rich daily. Special medical thanks to physicians and staff: Ammar Khalifa, MD with Continuum Health Care; Thad Stephens, MD with Helient Wound Care; Richard Morgan, MD and Amanda Hocker, NP with St. Joseph Pain Management Clinic; plus, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, Sharon Lane Health and Rehabilitation and Kansas City Hospice House.

A Memorial service will be held Tuesday, August 19 at Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri with visitation in the parlor at 2pm and a service in the sanctuary at 3pm. The service will be live streamed at http://www.cccckc.org/private-events . Burial of ashes will take place in the church Rose Garden.

The family requests that any donations be made to Harvesters Community Food Network, 3801 Topping Ave, Kansas City, MO 64129.