Thelma Marie Baker-Arnold

Thelma Marie Arnold, age 102, of Grants Pass, died Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at Kinsington Place.

Thelma was born June 7, 1914 in Dacoma, Oklahoma to Warren & Mattie Smith. At two years old her and her family moved to Kansas. Together with her family she moved to Garden Grove, California when she was in grade school. During the depression, to help her family, she worked at Knotts Berry Farm when it was just a small stand. In 1936 she married Orville Baker in Garden Grove, California. In 1943 they moved to Grants Pass. While in Grants Pass she worked for Pollack Grocery Store and Redwood Market for a few years followed by many years as a cook at Josephine Memorial Hospital. Orville passed away in the early 60’s. In 1966 she married Russell Arnold. After a brief move to California they returned to Grants Pass in the late 60’s. Russell died in 1995.

In her younger years she loved baseball and played left field. Thelma loved cooking, sewing and gardening. Thelma was a positive, loving, giving and caring person and lived her life speaking well of others.

She was a member of River Valley Community Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Ailene Anderson of Grants Pass; two sons, Harry Baker of Yakima, Washington and Ralph Arnold of Olympia, Washington; 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Thelma was preceded in death by a son, Reggi Arnold and a daughter, Georgia Robbins.

A memorial service will be at 12 Noon, Saturday, July 16, 2016 at River Valley Community Church. Private interment was held at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Grants Pass. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.