Trudy, along with her Father, Mother and two younger sisters, Ella and Wilhelmine (Minnie), came to the United States through New Orleans as refugees in 1951. Her third sister, Brigitte, was born in the U.S. They settled in the LaCoste area where Trudy’s Father was employed at the Rio Vista Dairy Farm. Trudy attended Solmes school , and she learned English by listening to popular music and reading the lyrics. Growing up, she picked cotton, painted houses, and worked at Herrmann’s Inn, her family’s service station and café. After high school, she worked at USAA.
Trudy had a thirst for learning her whole life. She graduated third in her class at Canyon High School in 1960. Soon after graduation, she married Rolf Arndt on November 12, 1960 in New Braunfels, Texas. They made their home in a small house they built on the current “Arndt Lane”, off of Highway 46. Trudy and Rolf celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on November 12, 2017.
Trudy’s proudest accomplishment was becoming a Manager for Home Interiors and Gifts. She received honors on a regular basis as one of their top Managers with a group of displayers working on her team. Trudy believed in the Christian values of Home Interiors provided by their founder, Mary Crowley. Mary provided career opportunities for women that would enhance their lives through decorating homes and the lives of others. That is something she taught Trudy…who was a beautiful home decorator and a person who decorated the lives of others.
After moving back to New Braunfels in 1996, Trudy became a Comal County Master Gardner. She had a love for gardening and flower arranging. Helping to teach others about growing plants and harvesting the fruits and vegetables was a passion for Trudy. Her family benefited greatly from her knowledge and her garden.
Trudy was proud of the achievements of her children and grandchildren. Her children: Christie Porter is Director of Mission Assurance Audits and Compliance at Raytheon Intelligence and Information Services. Erich Arndt is a Programmer/Systems Analyst Consultant for SAS in Medical and Financial fields. And grandchildren: David Arndt is a soldier in the United States Army, and Catherine Arndt who is finishing her undergraduate degree at Baylor University in Physics with plans to pursue her doctorate in Optics upon graduation.
Trudy is preceded in death by her Father, Ewald Herrmann; Mother, Sophie Herrmann; Sister, Ella Penshorn Eagan; Sister, Brigitte Schaefer; Uncle, Hugo Herrmann; Brother-in-Law, William (Billy) Arndt; Brother-in-Law, Charles Altum; Brother-in-Law, Johnny Eagan and Brother-in-Law, John Schaefer.
She is survived by her husband, Rolf Arndt, two children, Christie Porter and husband, Carter, Erich Arndt and wife, Leslie; two grandchildren, David Arndt and wife, Rebecca, and Catherine Arndt; Sister, Wilhelmine (Minnie) Altum; Brother-in-Law, Robert (Bob) Arndt and wife, Lucie; Aunt, Helene Schultz; Cousins, Erna Humphreys, Doris Schultz, Fred Schultz, Helmut Herrmann; and several nieces and nephews: Dr. Duane Penshorn and wife, Christine (daughter Naomi), Michael Penshorn and wife, Rhonda (sons Blaine and Brent), Dr. Susan Hudson and husband, Brook (sons Beck and Blaine, daughter Brynn), Karl Arndt and wife, Haley (sons Robert, Barry and Bo), Kaitlyn Wilson and husband, Clayton (son Cooper) and Tyler Arndt.
Public visitation will begin at 5 PM Monday, March 19, 2018, at Zoeller Funeral Home with the family present to receive friends from 6 PM until 8 PM. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Reverend Paul Owens officiating. Interment will follow at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be given to New Braunfels Hope Hospice or UT Southwestern Medical Center Neurology Department, Dallas, TX.
