Richard Marion Arnold

Mr. Arnold was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1910, studied electrical engineering at Georgia Tech and lived most of his life in Asheville, beginning in 1932. He was a pioneer in the early days of the medical x-ray business. During the period of 1932 to 1972, his company, The S&H X-Ray Company, sold and maintained much of the x-ray equipment used by physicians and hospitals in Western North Carolina and throughout the Southeast. Following the sale of his company to Philips Medical Systems in 1972, Mr. Arnold purchased and managed The Spinalator Company, a manufacturer of medical and physical therapy equipment located in Asheville. He retired from active management of the company in 1986. Over the years Mr. Arnold participated in a number of civic endeavors and was a consistent supporter of the community. He was a former member of the Asheville Rotary Club and was a member and avid golfer at the Biltmore Forest Country Club.

Mr. Arnold is survived by his wife, Virginia Arnold; sons, Richard M. Arnold, Jr. and his wife, Maxine, of St. Catherines, Ontario and Thomas C. Arnold and his wife, Genevieve, of Asheville; grandchildren, Copland Rudolph of Asheville, Thomas Arnold of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Kristina Arnold of Washington, D.C. and Andrea Arnold of Durham, North Carolina and one great-grandson, Bow Rudolph of Asheville. He is also survived by a sister, Elma Cameron of Hattiesburg and a brother, Pat Arnold of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am Friday, June 30th, at the New Hope Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Community Foundation of WNC-Richard Arnold Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1888, Asheville, NC 28802 or to New Hope Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 846, Skyland, NC 28776 or to Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 16, Asheville, NC 28802.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is in charge of arrangements. Please sign the memorial guestbook for the family.