Arndt, Richard Allen
Richard Allen Arndt, passed away on Saturday, April 10, 2010, after a long battle with carcinoid syndrome. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 3, 1933, the son of the late Elmer and Florence Dreifort Arndt.
He was a United States Navy veteran having served during the Korean Conflict. He received both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Physics from Case Western Reserve University, and his PHD in Physics from University of California, Berkeley. He retired from Virginia Tech in 1996, as Professor Emeritus after 30 years of teaching physics to the engineering sequence. He continued research for the Department of Energy through George Washington University at Washington D.C. and also through the Jefferson Lab in Newport News.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Norma and Ethel; a brother, Melvin Arndt; former wife, Helen Haney; a son, Rick Arndt; and a daughter, Robin Arndt. Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Donna Hall Arndt; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Kevin O’Toole, of Cordova, Alaska; son, William Arndt, of Greenbelt, Md.; sons, Alan Smith and Lisa, of Pilot and Eddie Smith and his wife, Linda, of Shawsville, and her children, Ben and Tracy; daughter and son-in-law, Terri and Kevin Anderson, of Disputanta; grandchildren, Shannon McQuade, of Richmond, Tori Beth Anderson, of Disputanta, Malani Towel and her husband, Mike, of Alaska, and California, and Makena O’Toole and his wife, Sara, of Alaska; a very special great-grandchild, Finn O’Toole, of Alaska; sister-in-law, Charlotte Rhodes and her husband, Harold, of Petersburg; brother-in-law, RC Hall and his wife, Diane, of Richmond; several special nieces and nephews, Michele and Roger Stewart, Jim and Julie Arndt, Paul Arndt, Pat and Debbie Arndt, and David and Abby Hall/Thorns Layman, all of California, Tara and Reggie Burgess, of Disputanta, Ashley Rhodes, of Petersburg, Wendi and Tim Black, of Richmond, and Steven and Natalie Hall, of Illinois; a very special aunt, Marie Jackson, of Radford; aunts, Elfreida Dreifort and Marion Hochschild, both of Florida; and many friends and acquaintances unmentioned.
Our gratitude to Dr. Stoeckle, Dr. Rotche, Dr. Sowinski, the staffs at both Montgomery Regional Hospital and Heritage Hall, Dr. Kelly, Carilion Family Medicine, Dr. Lee and their staff for all their help and support. Our special thanks to our compassionate companion and caregiver, Brandon Cupp, CNA, hospice nurse Rosemary, special nurse Elaine, and Keri and George of Kroger Pharmacy.
The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday, April 11, 2010, at the Mullins Funeral Home in Radford. No formal memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Medi-Home Health and Hospice, Attn.: Rosemary and Jennifer, 102 North Washington Avenue, Pulaski, Va., 24301 or the charity of your choice. The Arndt family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, www.mullinsfuneralhome.com.