THOMPSON, Arnold Leroy, II

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ April 2, 2009 Arnold Leroy Thompson II, 63, died March 24, 2009. He was a resident of Linden and formerly of Cedar Creek, Mishawaka and Middleboro, Ind. Arnold, also known as Tommy or Arnie, was born Feb. 12, 1946. He was a graduate of Mishawaka High School, where he was a well-known athlete, and Goshen College, where he earned degrees in commercial art and art education. He studied painting in Florence, Italy, and became an accomplished painter, in the tradition of his father and grandfather. For over a decade he has used his talent to create artwork for school children on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. Arnold traveled the world as a staff sergeant in the Marine Corps, First Marine Division. He served three tours in Vietnam, was a lifetime member of the Disabled Veterans of America and also belonged to the Marine Corps League. He is survived by his wife, Blue Thompson; three children and their families, Matthew Thompson of Knightdale, N.C.; Rachel Silverman (Larry) of Sarasota, Fla.; and Colrain Fragoso (Hector Jr.) and their sons, Ethan and Gabriel and grandchildren of Tucson. He is also survived by two sisters, Joann Anglin (Larry) of West Lafayette, Ind.; and Kathy Kappes (Mark) of Fishers, Ind.; nieces and nephews Kerry Wrightley (Ethan) and their two sons, Jaret and Justin, of New Palestine, Ind.; Kim Thompson (Jon) and their children, Trent, Lexi, Tori and Brooke, of Brookston, Ind.; Todd Celie (Beth) and their daughters, Madeline and Grace of Fishers, Ind. He had many in-laws across the country that will miss him greatly. He was a gentleman, a loving father and a wonderful husband and brother. He was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Arnold Thompson I. He was a lifelong Notre Dame football fan, and after becoming a rodeo-dad in Arizona, he was a huge rodeo fan. Since 1994, he raised animals and gardened on their farm with his wife in Linden. He enjoyed planting and caring for flowers at their church. As a teenager, Arnold was an Eagle Scout. He worked as a counselor at his beloved Boy Scout Camp Tamarack, the most beautiful place he ever saw. The family requests that donations be made to Camp Tamarack in lieu of flowers to LaSalle Council Boy Scouts of America, c/o Camp Tamarack, 1340 S. Bend Ave., South Bend, IN 46615. The family requests that cards of condolence be mailed to P.O. Box 3313, Show Low, AZ 85902. He will be buried at a private ceremony on his farm. A memorial service will be held at the White Mountain United Methodist Church in Show Low Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m. Luncheon will follow at the church. His family would like to express their gratitude to the doctors, nurses and support personnel at the Carl T. Hayden VA Hospital in Phoenix for their kindness and loving care over many years.