Steven George Arnold

Steven George Arnold lost his fight with cancer on Monday, June 1st at his home. He was born on May 8, 1946 in Palo Alto, CA to J. Edwin & Dorothy Arnold. Shortly after, he moved with his family to Eureka, CA and then to Grants Pass, OR in 1959. Steven was active in Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout. He was also active in Civil Air Patrol. He was a 1964 graduate of Grants Pass High School and University of Oregon.

In 1966, he married Gretchen Bechtel, who preceded him in death on July 14, 2000. Steven served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. In 1977, he moved his family to Medford and was an Electronic Engineer for California Oregon Broadcasting, Inc. for more than 30 years. Steve was instrumental in engineering main transmitters and a system of translators and led the digital television conversion. He enjoyed astronomy and was helpful in setting up the astronomy lab at North Medford High School.

Steven is survived by his son, Douglas Arnold; his parents J. Edwin and Dorothy Arnold; his brother George and sister-in-law Becky Arnold; nephew Trevor (Hollie) Arnold and niece Tiffany (Ramon) Reso; his companion Barbara Jackson and her grandchildren, Natalie and Nathan, all of Medford. He is also survived by a brother Jed Arnold of Grants Pass and brother-in-law Fred Bechtel of Connecticut.

Steven’s sense of right and wrong, fair and unfair, his dedication to truthfulness mixed with his sharp wit and dry sense of humor made him a unique and wonderful person. He will be terribly missed by those of us who were blest to be a part of his life.

A military memorial service will be held at Eagle Point National Cemetery on Thursday, July 23rd at 10:00 am. Memorial donations may be made to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) at 613 Market Street, Medford, OR 97501.