William Arnold

LOUISVILLE - On April 13,2024, William (Bill) Edward Arnold, loving husband of LaVerne Hutchens Arnold, who preceded him in death on September 1, 2021, passed away at the age of 95.

Bill is survived by his three daughters: Donna Rees, Susan Riordan, and Karen Arnold. Bill was born on May 10, 1928, in Louisville, Kentucky, to H.L. and Bessie (Lynch) Arnold and was the youngest of five siblings: Evelyn Montgomery, Mildred McGinnis, H.L. Arnold, Jr., and Virginia Cave.

Bill joined the Marines during his senior year at DuPont Manual High School and was honorably discharged in 1947. After studying civil engineering at Speed Scientific School for a year, he transferred to Georgetown Baptist College in response to God’s call to Christian ministry.

In February 1951, Bill married LaVerne Hutchens. Upon graduating from Georgetown in 1952, he enrolled in Southern Seminary. Following graduation, he and his wife were appointed to serve as missionaries in Ghana, West Africa, where Bill was a church planter, high school headmaster, preacher, mission treasurer, and pastor.

Following eleven years of service on the mission field, Bill returned to his hometown, Louisville, Kentucky, where he became the Business Manager at St. Joseph Hospital and the Educational Minister at Parkland Baptist Church. He later served as Patient Services Director at Highlands Baptist Hospital, Patient Services Director at Baptist Hospital East, and Manager of Insurance Claims at General Electric Company.

In 1984, Bill and LaVerne were once again appointed as missionaries and sent to West Africa, where Bill was Mission Treasurer and Mission Office Director for Baptist Mission of Nigeria. After four years, they were transferred to Gambia, where Bill served as Mission Treasurer and Business Manager. Bill pastored Glory Baptist Church in Serekunda, Gambia, and founded a Christian school there that is still thriving today.

In 1993, upon returning to Louisville, Bill served the Lord in various roles at Farmdale Baptist Church, as a marriage counselor at 9th & O Baptist Church Counseling Center,, and as Director of Missions at Henry County Baptist Association in New Castle, Kentucky. At the age of 78, he became a chaplain at Louisville’s Jewish Hospital, where he served for ten years.

Visitation will be on Friday, April 19, 2024, from 3:00-5:30 PM at Owen Funeral Home 9318 Taylorsville Road. The Funeral Service will be on at 5:30pm. Burial Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 10a.m. Resthaven Memorial Park.