Mary Lou Mullins Arnold, of Radford, Virginia, passed away Sunday morning October the 18th, leaving behind a loving family and a lifetime of memories.

Born on June 11, 1941, in Henry, Virginia, Mary Lou was the daughter of the late Charlie and Thelma Mullins. In addition to her parents, Mary Lou was preceded in death by her sisters, Betty Metz and Bobby Jean Thorpe.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia, and devoted her life to helping others through her career in education and her commitment to her church community. She taught elementary school for 35 years, teaching most of that time in Radford City Schools at Kuhn Barnett and Belle Heth Elementary Schools. She was a devoted member of First Baptist Church in Radford, which she joined in 1977. She remained active in the church for almost 50 years serving in numerous capacities including teaching Sunday School and serving as a Deacon.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-three years, Bobby Joe Arnold; her daughter, Shannon Bednarcik (Mark) of Wake Forest, NC; her sons, Rob Arnold (Mary Lynne) of Asheville, NC, and Andy Arnold (Carolyn) of Knoxville TN; and her sisters, Virginia Metz and Iris Blankenship.

Mary Lou also leaves behind eight grandchildren: Kate Tweedy (Sean Cowden), Jackson Arnold (Stephanie Arnold), Alex Arnold, Matthew Bednarcik, Maggie Arnold, Caroline Arnold, Claire Bednarcik, and Grace Bednarcik.

She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her family and all who knew her.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, Nov 14th at 2:00PM at The First Baptist Church of Radford, 215 Third Avenue. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall directly after the service.

Memorial contributions may be sent to:

Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901.