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Milan Jackson
BLOOMINGTON — Arnold Lester Eddings was born Jan. 10, 1922, and passed away peacefully on Thursday (Feb. 2, 2017) at McLean County Nursing Home, Normal. Born in Belleville to Burne Eddings and Frieda Arnold Eddings, he attended public schools there until 1934, when the family moved to Mascoutah to live with his grandmother, Christina Arnold.
As a youth, Arnold was active in Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1937. That year he was selected to demonstrate scouting to the Illinois State Fair attendees who visited Eagle Village during the fair. As a father, he shared his love of scouting with his sons by being scoutmaster of Troop 18 in Bloomington for several years.
After graduating from Mascoutah High School in 1938, he attended Greenville College in Greenville for two years. After transferring to McKendree College, he became interested in the study of geology under the tutelage of Professor S.M. McClure. He then transferred his interest to the University of Illinois, where he earned the position of draftsman to Dr. H.R. Wanless, world-renowned geologist, graduating in 1942 with an B.S. in geology.
He joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 for pilot training. While stationed at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla., in 1945, he met Wilma Janzen at the USO club. He was discharged in 1945 as a B-25 pilot, and married Wilma on Nov. 18, 1945. They returned to Illinois, where Arnold and Wilma continued his education at the U of I, where he received his M.S. in geology in June 1947.
He was employed by Schlumberger, an oil field service company, for 12 years and was assigned to many locations, including Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Illinois.
In 1959, Arnold joined Country Companies Insurance Co. and moved permanently to Bloomington. In 1972, Arnold became an independent agent until his retirement in 1996. While with Country Companies, he earned the All-American Award 12 consecutive years. He served as president of Bloomington-Normal Life Underwriters Association and also president of Young Men’s Club during its 50th year anniversary.
Arnold and Wilma were founding members of Calvary United Methodist Church and served in many capacities during the expansion and growth of the church.
They were also very active in the foreign exchange student programs in B-N, beginning with their first “son” from Finland who attended BHS during the 1964-65 school year, and continued through to the ISU program where they were a host family for a total of 25 students from around the world. Many of these students remain in contact with the family today.
Arnold leaves behind his wife of 71 years, Wilma; his son, James Michael Eddings, Bloomington; daughter, Sandra Eddings Dralle, Normal; grandson, Joshua (Laura) Eddings, Hudson; granddaughter, Katherine Dralle, Indianapolis, Ind. He was predeceased by a son, Phillip Arnold Eddings (1995).
Arnold was beloved by all whose lives he touched.
His memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Calvary United Methodist Church with a luncheon to follow. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in the church parlor.
Memorial donations may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church or the Prairie Aviation Museum.
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