Robert D. Arnold, MD

Robert Dale "Bob" Arnold passed away peacefully at his home in southern Indiana on February 15, 2017. He was born in Moore's Hill, Indiana on March 13, 1924, a "preacher's kid" who learned self-reliance and the value of hard work as a hired hand on farms in southern Indiana, raising pigs and chickens, painting houses and digging graves with his Baptist minister father back when they still did that by hand.

A lifelong resident of Indiana, Dr. Arnold accomplished many significant milestones in his 92 years of life. He was an exceptional scholar and student athlete, and valedictorian in high school before attending Indiana University, where he received his undergraduate degree in1944. He received his MD degree from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1947. He served in both the Army and the Air Force, and then returned to Indianapolis to establish a private medical practice in obstetrics and gynecology. During his nearly 50 years of obstetrical practice, he delivered 17,144 babies, which he considered one of his most significant accomplishments. In fact, in a magazine interview in 1990, when asked to describe his proudest moment, he said: "There are probably lots of proud moments. To be perfectly honest, I have a proud moment every time I deliver a baby!" Dr. Arnold retired from obstetrics and surgery in 1993, but he continued to dream about delivering babies as he continued practicing gynecology and women's bariatrics until his death.

In 1945 he married Jessie Marie (Suzannah) Arnold and together they had five sons and one daughter. They were divorced in 1966. He married his current wife and life partner, Neva Y. Arnold, Ph.D., in 1966 and she worked with him in various roles in his medical practice for over 50 years.

Dr. Arnold was a Charter Member and Past President of the Medical Staff at Community Hospital East and a Charter Member and Past President of the Sertoma Club of East Indianapolis, where he remained active throughout his life. He was a member of All Souls Unitarian Church, Past President of the Congregation, and served as Chairman of the Architectural and Building Committee for the construction of their church. He also served Central Indiana Planned Parenthood for more than 50 years, as a physician, medical director, and on the board of directors.

Bob combined two passions, travel and nature photography, into his most significant hobby and pastime. He traveled to all fifty states and over fifty countries. He and his wife undertook five photo safaris to Africa, where he felt most at home in the Serengeti and along the Rift Valley. They also traveled to Australia, Antarctica, Venezuela, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands, among other exotic locations, to photograph wildlife and nature. An avid birdwatcher since his youth, he found great pleasure in his later years when the hummingbirds would return the same week each year to feast from the feeders he placed around his central Indiana home. Bob was an avid Hoosiers fan and a Charter Member of the Hoosier Hundred. He watched his first IU basketball game in 1940, and almost never missed a home basketball or football game when he was in town, even during the years when the results weren't that great.

Dr. Arnold is survived by his wife, Neva; his sons Michael; Stephen and his wife Laurie and their sons Jordan and Dylan; Jeffrey and his wife Christine and their daughter Jennifer (Michael) and son Christopher (Caitlin); Gregory and his wife Denny and their son Brendon and daughters Brittany (Brian) Brianna (Michael), and Danielle (Grant); his daughter Kristen Kienker; and his foster son Eric Kwok-Leung Yee and his wife Rita, and their sons Matthew and Alex. He was preceded in death by Suzannah, their son Randall, and his son-in-law Dave Kienker. He delighted in his 10 grandchildren and foster grandchildren, as well as his 15 great and great-great grandchildren: Brooklyn, Gavin, Hayln, Ian, Kayden, Lauren, Lennox, Liam, Lilly, London, Oscar, Ruby, Steven (Summer), Tori and Zachary, most of whom affectionately called him Bob-Bob. He will be deeply missed by his family, his friends and colleagues, the patients he served so long and so well as their doctor, and by the 17-Year Locusts, who will be expecting him to still be around when they return to Indiana in 2021.

One of the traditions in our family that was most meaningful to Bob was our Family Covenant, spoken at every family gathering:

Love is the Spirit of this Family,

And Service is its Law.

To Dwell Together in Peace

To Seek the Truth in Love,

And to Help One Another.

This is our Covenant.

Amen.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dr. Arnold's honor at Camp Sertoma Foundation or IU Foundation. His family will plan a Celebration of Life in the near future. If you are interested in information about that event, email [email protected]