John Wesley Arnold M.D.

John Wesley Arnold, M.D. passed peacefully at home on April 30, 2020, four days after his 100th birthday. Born in Billings, Montana to Ferris and Mildred Arnold, John was the second of their three children, with Sally the eldest and Priscilla the youngest. The family moved to Long Beach in the late 1920s when John was a young boy. John was a graduate of Long Beach Poly (1938), Stanford University (1942), and Stanford Medical School (1945). While in his medical residency at Stanford, John was introduced to the love of his life, the beautiful Wiima Blakey, by John's roommate who had grown up with Wilma in Eagle Rock. Wilma was then a Nurse Cadet at Stanford after completing her studies at Occidental College. John and Wilma fell in love and were married on October 20, 1945. Sons John and Bruce were born in 1947 and 1950. Following his residency at Stanford, John served as a surgeon in the Army. After he and Wilma were posted to Texas and Oklahoma, the Army sent John to the 49th General Hospital in Tokyo. When John's Army service ended, he and Wilma settled in Long Beach. John practiced in Long Beach as a Board Certified eye, ear, nose and throat physician and surgeon in partnership with his father until his father retired in 1975, and then solo until 1985 when John retired. John was dedicated to his family and a student of its history. Proud and grateful to be a 10th generation American, John was an avid genealogist. He and Wilma traveled extensively in the United States and British Isles researching the family's history about which he wrote two books. John was also an avid golfer, fly fisherman, gardener, and reader of history. Like his father before him, John enjoyed telling "stories" to amuse his friends and family. John is survived by his son, John (Barbara); grandchildren, Allison (Scott), Lindsay (George) and Blake; great grandsons, Liam, Henry, Bennett and Evan; niece, Becky Blakey Briggs (Scott); nephew Patch, Blakey (Debbie), and sister-in-law, Bobbie Blakey Stephens (John). John loved children and took a special joy in caring for them in his medical practice. For those wishing to make a donation in John's memory, the family recommends the Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Institute in Long Beach or any charity benefiting children's health care. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.