Arnold J. Isken

Arnold J. Isken

AGE: 94 • Wilmington

Arnold J. Isken, age 94 of Wilmington, Delaware, died peacefully in his sleep at home on October 12, 2014. He was born in the Bronx section of New York City and graduated from the City College of New York with a degree in accounting. Arnold subsequently attended Oregon State University under the Army Specialized Training Program where he participated in an intensive German studies program. He served in the European Theatre during WWII as a Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corp (CIC) attached to the 70th Infantry Division. He was involved in the apprehension of numerous high-ranking Nazi officials. Arnold was awarded the Combat Infantry badge for his participation in the Battle of the Vosges Mountains. Fluent in German, he remained in Germany until 1947, serving as a Liaison Officer in the U.S. Army of Occupation, where he escorted Russian and German missions.

Upon his return home, he worked for the Exxon Corp. as a Traveling Auditor, visiting refineries and pipeline offices throughout the United States. In 1950, weary of the constant travel, he decided to change careers and with Harry Bissell, a lifelong friend he had first met while in the Army, opened a Howard Johnson's restaurant located at Hares Corner. In 1955, he opened the Fairfax Howard Johnson's which he personally operated for 47 years, serving multiple generations of Brandywine Hundred families. In 1964, he opened a Howard Johnson's restaurant on Kirkwood Highway which remained in operation for 40 years.

A life-long entrepreneur, Arnold was involved with numerous other real estate projects, including the development of the Newark Holiday Inn and, in conjunction with his son, Paul, the building of the Hampton Inn in Newark and the Homewood Suites Hotels on Concord Pike. He was honored in 1976 as the "Restaurateur of the Year" by the Delaware Restaurant Association, of which he was a founding member and former officer. Always an avid newspaper reader (usually consuming 4 papers daily), Arnold loved to keep abreast of world and business news until his death. He enjoyed a lifetime of international travel and was a passenger on many of the world's great transatlantic ocean liners.

Arnold was predeceased by his 3 siblings, including a twin sister and his beloved wife Evelyn, with whom he enjoyed 63 years of marriage before her death in March 2014. He is survived by his sons, Donald and Paul (Joan) of Wilmington and his daughter Laura Doyle (George) of Vienna, VA. Arnold was blessed with 9 grandchildren, Ashley and Blair Isken, Kori, Brett and Beau Isken and Matthew, Claire, Thomas and Katherine Doyle.

Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation at McCrery and Harra Funeral Home at 3924 Concord Pike on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 10:00 am with a memorial service at 11:30 am. (Additional, overflow parking is available in the rear lot of the Brandywine YMCA, 3 Mt. Lebanon Rd.). Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make contributions are asked to consider a charity of their own choosing or perform an act of kindness in his memory. Messages of condolence may be sent to: www.mccreryandharra.com