Arvin LeRoy Workman

He was such a good father. He always protected. Always provided. Always excited to be able to rescue one of us, and never frustrated with us for needing help. I can remember thinking different times in High School when my car ran out of gas, or I had locked my keys in the car: “Oh, good- I can call dad and he will be so excited to come help me!” And he always was-- He never once seemed disappointed in my lack of attention to the gas gauge or where the keys were when I had locked the car doors.. In that last year and a half, I just wished I could rescue him, too. I really love my dad. I hope he knew that. I think he did, and he surely does now. I wish I could see him. It makes me lonely to think that I can never call him on the phone again-- or even call mom and know that he is there in the room listening to the other end of the conversation and smiling and rubbing his head. I miss the way he hummed a little tune and would make musical instrument sounds. I miss the way he would lean in, eyebrows up, to catch the details of something I wanted to explain to him. I miss the way he loved my mom. The sight of her- listening to her- appreciating her- enjoying sitting in the Shaklee room with her. His silly smile when he capitulated to something- stretching his arms out in surrender. I miss the way he always pretended he would put his coffee cup on his head in a restaurant to signal that he was ready for a refill. I miss my dad.

My Grandpa Workman was one of the kindest men you would ever meet. To his grandchildren, he wasn't a talker, he was a doer. He and Grandma drove to Utah every summer to take us back with them. He would get us books on tape and was a trusty captain, never handing over the wheel to my Grandma. As soon as we would cross the border into Illinois, he would start to sing "We're on the 'rote' to Terre Haute, we're on the 'rowt' to Terre 'Howt', we're on the 'root' to Terre 'Hoot'" and we'd all join in singing the "Wabash Cannonball" as we'd drive over the Wabash River. To say that Grandpa was a poetic man was an understatement. :)Once we'd get back to the house, he would set to work putting up the swings in the front yard, filling up the wading pool in the backyard, and setting up the hammock. He would film us playing, and have fun activities he was working on- like carving walking sticks or making sure "Wilma's tomatoes" were pampered to perfection. I still have a photocopy of my little 6-year-old hand next to Grandpa's. I think that paints a great picture of how he showed love- he was always doing things for others. He will be missed, but I am also eternally thankful that he knew the Lord and is with Him now.

Arvin was one of the best men I have ever known. He proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that you could be smart, brave, successful, & nice.
You could tell what kind of a man he was by his children, and they were great.
God bless you, Wilma, & yr family, too.-BOb & Linda Cain, Kansas City

Dr. Workman was a blessing to my wife and I when I attended ISU. He was my best and favorite professor. Together, we filmed the birth of my first son to use in the Life Science classes at ISU. He was a great encouragement to me personally and academically.

My deepest condolences to the Workman fa mily. The Gerstmeyer class of 49 has lost one of their best! I have many fond memories of Arvin as a classmate. Bob Lemont and Florence Hunt Draper

Larry,

With deepest sympathy to you and your family.

Dave and I thought of you often over the years. Thank you for all that you did for as at ISU.

TO A VERY FINE OFFICER AND GENTLEMAN.