Dr. Benjamin Daniel Arnold, PhD

Dr. Benjamin Daniel Arnold, PhDServices for Dr. Benjamin Daniel Arnold, PhD will be held Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 2 pm at Pineville Park Baptist Church, Pineville, LA. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Pineville, LA. Rev. Steve McAllister and James Foster will officiate. The family will receive visitors Friday, March 25 from 5-9pm at Hixson Brothers, Pineville; Saturday, March 26 from 9-11am at Hixson Brothers, Pineville and from noon until time of services at Pineville Park Baptist Church.Beloved husband, father, grandfather, mentor, caregiver and friend to all, Dr. Arnold passed away Saturday, March 19, 2011 at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, Alexandria with those he loved near his side. He was preceded in death by his parents, Voight and Mary Miriam Chapman Arnold, brother, David Allen Arnold, Sr., maternal and paternal grandparents.He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Milda J. Arnold of Pineville, LA; daughter, Shawndrea Arnold of Shreveport, LA and son, Brynan Arnold and wife, April of Kolin; their mother and his first wife, DeAnne Arnold; daughter, Donella Smith and husband, Kyle of Alexandria, LA; son, Robert Duck and wife, Angie of Enid, OK; brother, James "Beebo" Arnold, Sr. and wife, Peggy of Magnolia, Texas; sister-in-law, Vicky Arnold of Ball, LA; seven adored grandchildren who knew him simply as "Big Papa," Sarah Smith, Josh Price, Katie Smith, Zachary Duck, Ben Smith, Isabelle Duck, and Gracie Arnold; a host of nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.Dr. Arnold was born in Monroe, LA on September 6,1942 and attended Buckeye High School. He coached and mentored little league and church baseball teams throughout high school. He graduated from Louisiana College in 1965 with a B.S. in Science. From 1965-1974 he was a Mathematics and Science teacher, as well as basketball and baseball coach at Poland High School. In 1970, he assumed the position Assistant Principal. While working at Poland in 1973, he received his Masters in Education/School Administration and Supervision from Mississippi College, Clinton, MS. He authored and administered the annual grant for the Rapides Parish Intervention Program, a program designed to reduce crime and disruptive behavior, from 1980-1983. He was appointed Principal of Poland High School from 1977 until his retirement in 1987. He was inducted into the Poland Hall of Fame in May 2010. During his time at Poland he worked to obtain his Masters Plus 30 from Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA. Dr. Arnold graduated from University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS in 1991 with a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (emphasis in Counseling) and completed his internship and residency in Psychology at Tulane Medical Center, New Orleans, LA. While working on his doctorate, he served as Director of Programming at Louisiana Special Education Center and as a psychological associate at St. Mary's Residential Training Facility. After completion of his doctorate, he served as Psychologist and Director of Staff Development and In-service Training at St. Mary's Training Facility. In 1994, he went into private practice in Pineville, LA and Natchitoches, LA. He was a trainer for the Process Communications Model, Little Rock, AR. He served on staff at both Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and Natchitoches Mental Health Center as a Psychologist. Dr. Arnold also did consulting work for the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, Office of Juvenile Justice, and Department of Children and Family Services. He also did staff development for Ware Youth Center, Coushatta, LA.He was a member of the American Psychological Association, Louisiana Group Psychotherapy Association, Louisiana Psychological Association, American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, Phi Delta Kappa, Louisiana Association of Educators, and National Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals. He served as a member on the Board of Trustees at Greenville College, Greenville, IL from 1976-1989. He was a past president of Cenla Kiwanis Club. He was on the Board of Directors of the Family Counseling Agency, Past President of Rapides Parish Association of Administrators and Divorcecare group facilitator. Dr. Arnold was an active member of the church and looked forward to volunteering more often after his second retirement.He was certified by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and held a Louisiana Teaching Certificate with endorsements in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, General Science, Principal, Supervision of Student Teachers Supervisor and Superintendent. Dr. Arnold loved his work. Loved helping people and touched many lives both personally and professionally. He turned confusion into an understandable language and provided support and encouragement to all who were in need. He helped make our lives more pleasant and manageable. Even more than his many educational and professional accomplishments, it was his devotion and love for his family and friends that will be most remembered. Generous, compassionate, selfless and always quick to smile, he shared his whole heart. His passing has left a void in many lives, yet he has taught us how to be strong and thrive through life's uncertainties. He will be missed; however, we rejoice in having known him.Honoring Dr. Arnold as pallbearers will be: Hershel Paul, Jimmy Bradford, Jim Arnold, Jr., Allen Arnold, and Kyle Smith.Honorary pallbearers will be: Carroll Bradford, Robert Duck, Brian Bradford, Millard Bienvenu, Paul Ware, M.D., Marshall Stretton, Charles Thigpen and Joseph Jones.