Paul Beaver Arnold

Paul Beaver Arnold left us on July 2, 2012. He claimed to have had "a very ordinary life," but the facts tell a different story. Paul was born in 1918 to Roger and Eleanor Tracy Arnold in T'aiyuanfu, Shansi, China, where his father was a YMCA General Secretary. His earliest memory was that of camel caravans coming up over the hills from the west. Those who are interested in the full story can go to theoberlinenewstribune.com and select Current News or oncampus.oberlin.edu/source. When his family reflects on Paul's legacy, he is first and foremost remembered as a dedicated husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather. Feeling useful and productive was central to Paul's identity and, while we recall and admire his many varied accomplishments in the world, it was his personal qualities and attributes that we treasure and remain precious to us. His creative, curious, adventuresome mind and intuition took him so many places, both internally and externally; his generous, compassionate, engaged heart cared deeply for all, from his close family to all creatures on the earth; and his magnificent hands enabled him to give shape to his mental inspirations and visions, whether "art" or a challenging household project. While Paul's early years were spent in a walled Chinese compound and city, the rest of his life was characterized by his ability to imagine the various walls he encountered, whether real or symbolic, simply as puzzles to be solved. A fellow Oberlin artist described Paul as "the best example of an artist in community." This was no "ordinary man," nor "ordinary life." Paul created a masterpiece, and we are all richer for it. Paul was predeceased by his beloved wife Sarah (Sally) Ann Clagett Arnold. Survivors include daughters Peggy Arnold of Longmont, CO, Tacie (Craig) Hampton of Lorain, OH, Judy (Bill Puett) of Dahlonega, GA, son Kemper (Julie) of Rocky River, OH, AFS daughter Tsugiko (Bill) Scullion of Old Greenwich, CT, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and brothers James (Marna) Arnold of Port Townsend, WA and Allen Arnold of Black Mountain, NC.