Harry Hodges Arnold

1932 - 2016

Harry Hodges ("Hap") Arnold (1932-2016)

Harry Hodges ("Hap") Arnold, 84, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, died peacefully at his home in Charlotte on Monday, July 4, 2016.

The epitome of a Southern gentleman, Hap was born in Dover, North Carolina on March 23, 1932 to the late James Paul Arnold and Marion Hodges Arnold. He attended UNC-Chapel Hill on a Navy ROTC scholarship and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy after graduating with a B.A. degree in Political Science in 1954. Over the course of the next 27 years, Hap's naval career took him and his family to Norfolk, Virginia; Washington, D.C. (where he earned an M.B.A. from George Washington University in 1969); Newport, Rhode Island; Honolulu, Hawaii; and (as part of an exchange program with the Royal Canadian Navy) Montreal, Canada. His last post was in Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as commanding officer of the Navy Finance Center.

After retiring from the Navy as a Captain in 1981, Hap moved back to North Carolina to embark on a second career in college administration at UNC-Charlotte. For the next 13 years, he served the university as a senior administrator, assuming the role of Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs in 1989, a position he held until his retirement in 1994.

Hap is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Marie Jones ("Jennie") Arnold; his daughter, Debora A. Arnold (Sean Fox) of Charlotte; his son, Thomas E. Arnold of Gaithersburg, Maryland; his grandson, Dylan L. Fox-Arnold of Charlotte; his sister, Pearl Arnold West of Nashville, North Carolina; his brother, James Paul Arnold, Jr. of Annandale, Virginia; and many nieces and nephews.

Throughout his 40 years of distinguished service to his country and the state of North Carolina, Hap was guided by his deep commitment to integrity, excellence, and hard work. The most loving husband, father, and grandfather imaginable, Hap filled his retirement years with cherished family beach trips, holiday gatherings, and other shared adventures. Following the birth of his only grandchild in 2002, Hap embraced grandparenthood with great enthusiasm, spending countless hours sharing his passion for reading and Tar Heel basketball with Dylan and becoming a fiercely loyal fan of youth soccer.

Honoring Hap's wishes, a private memorial service will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Home, 1111 East Blvd. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Pet Connect Rescue (P.O. Box 60714, Potomac, MD 20859, petconnectrescue.org) or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203; online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com