Thurman Arnold

Thurman Ray Arnold was born on August 13, 1930, in Atoka, Oklahoma, to William Allen and Rosa Lena (Hayden) Arnold. He grew up mostly around the Pryor and Grove area. After meeting when they were 14-15 years old, he married the love of his life, Thelma Louise Trimble, on December 1, 1949, married 64 years. They became the parents of two children, Steve and Lisa. Thurman is the second oldest of eight siblings and chose to drop out of school so he could work and help support the family. His lack of education, even though it presented challenges at times, did not hold him back from becoming a lineman/electrician. In his earlier years, Thurman and Thelma traveled around to various construction sites for jobs including New Mexico and Illinois, until the babies started coming along. Thurman worked for Public Service of Oklahoma – 11 years, City of Pryor – 2 years, and retired in 1990 from Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) as the Power Line Maintenance Supervisor with 23 years of service. Thurman had an amazing sense of humor. He was continually pulling jokes on co – workers, friends, and family. Thurman loved playing cards, dominoes, listening to music, watching wrestling, taking care of his yard and a few of the neighbors’ yards, just because he could, and giving candy to almost everyone he met. Having coffee with acquaintances and going to retiree gatherings were important to him, too. Many times, he would take meals to family or friends that were no longer able to drive or get out much or just to stop by to visit. Thurman thoroughly enjoyed living on that farm in the Bitter Creek area northwest of Adair where they raised their family and Steve and Lisa attended school. He loved being on the property, farming, tending to cattle, baling hay in the summer with his kids and later the grandsons. After retirement, Thurman and Thelma moved to Pryor where they spent their golden years. For years, Thurman has enjoyed meeting his siblings on a monthly basis for lunch, going on horse and wagon rise with Steve, taking Lisa to lunch, loved seeing the grandsons, and loved seeing the great – grandkids. The family loved and adored the man they called Dad/ Grandpa/ Thurm/ Thum/ Uncle Thumb and he will be greatly missed, but they will forever treasure the memories of his unique quotes referred to as Thurmanisms. Thurman is survived by his son, Steve and wife Linda Arnold of Pryor, daughter, Lisa and husband Dale Wilson of Collinsville; grandsons, Chris and wife Julie Arnold, Brandon and wife Christy Arnold and Nick and wife Ashley Long; great – grandchildren, Chelby and Katlyn Arnold, Jarod Ray and Joshua Arnold, Kinzley and Cash Long, and Kyler and Corgan Oler; sisters, Maxine and husband Jeff Harris, and Geraldine Bryant; sister -in-law, Ruby Jordan, brother – in-law, Glenn and wife Sue Trimble; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Thelma, parents, Allen & Rosa Arnold, brothers WA “Lefty” Arnold, Hayden Arnold, Preston Arnold, and sisters Mary Jean Williams and Wanda Sue Helt, and dear friends Erven and Lydia Willis.