Bernard Arnold

Two-time resident of the Durango area, Bernie Arnold, died Saturday, April 6, 2013, after a two-year battle with pancreatic and bladder cancer, at his home in Ignacio. He was 68. Bernie was born December 11, 1944, in Stonehouse, Great Britain, to Walter and Rena Arnold. He immigrated to Canada at the age of seven with his family, and later to the United States. He became a US citizen in 1964. He spent most of his childhood in Long Beach, Calif., where his passion for flying and aircraft was born. He also loved to sail, and when his kids were small built his own sailboat. He spent his life as an aircraft mechanic and a private pilot, first with Pan Am then with Douglas Aircraft, and on to others as companies sold. He spent his last 20 years mainly working on small aircraft locally under his company, Bent Propeller Aviation, and taking joy in flying his Cessna 210. He moved to Durango in 1979 with his wife, Virginia Carol Erickson, (now deceased) and two children until 1985. He returned in 1993 and married Kathleen Mary Todd in 1994. He and Kathleen fulfilled a life dream of building their own home in Ignacio. In recent years he was involved in the Four Corners Back Country Horseman in the Durango area, and loved to go riding and horse camping. He also enjoyed country dancing. He is remembered as always having a positive outlook, a willing, helping hand and he was beloved by family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, his children, John Arnold of Mesa, Ariz., Kris Jeter of Wittman, Ariz., stepdaughters Jennifer Kopp of Larkspur, Colo., and Megan Smith of Fountain, Colo., ten grandchildren, brother Robin Arnold of Apple Valley, Calif., and sisters Jane Corbett and Angela Bridge of Hemet, Calif. A celebration of life will be held at his home on April 13, 2013, from 1-4pm.