ABILENE, July 9 — Retha Lewis Arnold, 83, of Abilene, passed away at her home on Tuesday, July 2, 2013. She was born on September 7, 1929 in North Carolina to the late Joseph and Mary Tolley Lewis. She was the widow of SSgt (Staff Sergeant) James William Arnold Jr.

She is survived by a son, Larry E. Arnold (Rhonda) of Prospect; a daughter, Mary E. Arnold of Abilene (Jessie W. Holman); granddaughter, Ashley Nichole “Niki” Williams (Robby); three great-granddaughters, Aynsley, Kristin and Jillian “Jilly” Williams; brother, Hobert Lewis of Hampden-Sydney; sister, Hannie Lewis of Cullen; and special family friends, Dale Tatum and Ardie Jackson. She is preceded in death by five brothers and four sisters.

A funeral service was held Saturday, July 6 in the Prospect Gospel Tabernacle with interment in the Willow Grove Cemetery in Darlington Heights.

Shorter Funeral Home, Farmville, served the family. www.shorterfuneralhome.com