Shirley Arnold

Shirley was the beloved wife of Lewis “Tracy” Arnold, whom she married in 1957. She was a loving mother to Debbie (Freeman) Benson, Terry Parkinson, Joe (Marsha) Arnold, and Sandy Arnold. She was a cherished grandmother to Tracy, Christen (Greg), Daniel, Alicia, Reece (Becks), Robyn (Lewis), and Kess (Shyan), and a proud great-grandmother to Bryan and Bradley.

Shirley was preceded in death by her sister, Beverly Drane; her brother-in-law, Terry Drane; and her brother-in-law, Steve Arnold.

Shirley was a mathematician with a lifelong love of learning. Her talent was evident in college, where one professor offered her an A without taking the final exam because her performance would raise the curve so high that the men in the class might have difficulty gaining admission to their chosen programs.

Her abilities were recognized early in her career when her supervisor selected her to work on a brand-new IBM computer at McDonnell Douglas—a machine that filled an entire room. She delighted in sharing stories with her family about testing airplane flight and takeoff programming using pegboards. She was thrilled when one of the simulated flights went straight up, only to discover that she had been working on a rocket in the 1950s!

After marrying, Shirley joined her husband's family business, where she continued to embrace new technology, becoming an early adopter of computer software in the 1970s.

Above all, Shirley dearly loved her family. She and Tracy worked side by side in the family business, building a partnership that extended from their work into their home life. Together, they loved traveling the world and, perhaps most joyfully, being grandparents. They created unforgettable memories with their grandchildren through elaborate Easter egg hunts, pumpkin-carving parties, and spirited competitions to build Christmas castles out of sugar cubes. These traditions reflected their creativity, their sense of fun, and the joy they found in bringing their family together.

Shirley was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend. She loved her co-workers at the family business. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, and her memory will live on in the many lives she touched and the cherished family traditions she helped create.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hoffmeister South County Chapel, 1515 Lemay Ferry Rd., St. Louis, MO 63125. On Saturday, October 31, 2026, there will be visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by Funeral Services at 11:00 a.m. at Hoffmeister South County Chapel, 1515 Lemay Ferry Rd., St. Louis, MO 63125. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association Missouri Chapter or to a charity of your choice.