Obituary of Patty Stephens Arnold

Patty Stephens Arnold
January 15, 1927 - May 21, 2023
Patty Stephens Arnold died peacefully at her home in Boone, North Carolina in the early hours
of Sunday May 21, 2023. Patty was blessed with a good disposition, generosity, a kind heart and
a forgiving spirit. Curiosity, a zest for life and her ability to embrace change kept her learning
and evolving. When her husband, David proposed, he promised life would not be dull. It
definitely was not. They lived in interesting places and traveled widely. While rearing four
children, Patty pursued her interest in history, genealogy, art, architecture and preservation.
Between moves to Alexandria, Virginia; Brevard County, Florida and the Marshall Islands, the
Arnolds enjoyed life in Knoxville, Tennessee; Huntsville, Alabama and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Patty and Dave’s first venture into home ownership was an eclectic oceanfront cottage in the
center of Cocoa Beach, Florida. Throughout their lives, they were fortunate to live in a variety of
houses over looking the Potomac River, Pacific Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Though
natives of Tennessee, the Arnolds spent their life together primarily in Virginia and Florida.
While living in Florida, Patty's activities included volunteer work with St. David’s by the Sea
Episcopal Church, the Board of the Citrus Council Girl Scouts, AAUW, Sea Grape Garden Club,
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Brevard Museum of Art and Science, Colonial Dames of
America, DAR, PEO and the Eau Gallie Yacht Club.
While living in Alexandria, Virginia, Patty served on the Vestry of St. Lukes Wellington, Board of
Virginia Diocesan Homes, Board of Senior Services, Board of Elder Crafters, DAR and as a
docent at Gunston Hall.
After retiring to Blacksburg, Virginia, she served on the Board of Education, Health and Human
Services of the University of Tennessee, Board of the NRV Friends of the Roanoke Symphony.
She enjoyed membership in PEO, Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, Jamestown Society,
Manakin Huguenots, Order of Descendants of Colonial Cavaliers, Ancient Planters, Daughters of
1812, First Families of Tennessee, Christ Church Episcopal Church, Virginia Tech Faculty Wives
Club, Trillium Garden Club and the Blacksburg County Club.
With the support of their children, Patty and Dave spent ten years living in Staunton, Virginia,
moving to Boone, North Carolina a year ago. While living in Staunton, most of Patty’s volunteer
activities and memberships continued, growing to include the Staunton Augusta Art Center,
Historic Staunton Foundation, Trinity Episcopal Church and St. Mary’s White Chapel Episcopal
Church in Lancaster, Virginia.
Patty graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville where she majored in Home
Economics and minored in Library Science. A member of Phi Lambda Theta Education Society,
she pledged Delta Gamma and was selected Pi Kappa Alpha dream girl.
Many expected Patty to live to 100 years, since her Mother reached 105 and one great
grandfather lived in three centuries. The only daughter of Nelle Saunders Stephens and Clarence
Elroy Stephens, she was born in Sparta, Tennessee, living most of her early life in Tullahoma,
Tennessee surviving the Great Depression and World War II.
Patty is survived by four children, Stephanie Sloan, Amy Arnold, Andrea Leonard and Gordon
Arnold, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her only
sibling, Robert Ransom Stephens.

Patty and Dave have requested their ashes be placed in the Memorial Garden at St. Mary’s White
Chapel on the Northern Neck of Virginia, to honor the Reverend John Bertrand, Huguenot, and
his wife Charlotte de Jolie, who came to Virginia in 1690. Their daughter, Mary Ann Bertrand
Ball, Patty’s 8th great-grandmother, is buried on the grounds of the church, which was built in
1669.
If desired, a memorial gift may be made in Patty’s name to St. Mary's White Chapel, 5940 White
Chapel Road, Lancaster, Virginia, Amorem Hospice (https://www.amoremsupport.org/) or to
your favorite charity.