Carol Lynn (Toth) Arnold,79, a resident of Eureka Springs, passed on from her earthly life on Feb. 22, 2025. She was born April 3, 1945, in Jersey City, N.J., to Elmer Francis Toth and Dorothea Ethel Nelson Toth.
Carol graduated from Octorara High School in Atglen, Pa., in 1963. In 1968 she graduated from Lebanon Valley College in Ephrata, Pa. with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.
Carol was always fascinated by life “out west” as shown on TV westerns and as a child, she frequently dressed as a cowgirl. Thus, it was no surprise that after she graduated with her teaching degree, she accepted a position as a first-grade teacher at Cameron Elementary School in Barstow, Calif. This was a fateful decision, as it was in Barstow she met the love of her life, Dudley William Arnold, Jr. She and Dudley married in 1980, and Carol became part of the Arnold family
After retiring from teaching in 2000, Carol and Dudley moved from Barstow to Quitman, Ark. They bought a farm where Dudley raised cattle and Carol landscaped the property, planted gardens, and did crafts and tea parties when their grandchildren visited. There was nothing she loved more than her grandchildren, and she spent hours playing Old Maid with them and creating costumes and craft items. The grandchildren felt lucky to have her as their grandmother. Carol also created scrapbooks focused on family, including her grandchildren of course.
When both were able to travel, he brought the scrapbooks with her when she and Dudley visited Susan, Dennis, and the Cohen family for the annual Thanksgiving dinner. For these visits, Dudley and Carol brought the turkey and Dudley cooked the entire meal, with everyone enjoying the meal, the company, and the scrapbooks showing their grandchildren which Carol proudly displayed!
During her retirement, both she and her husband were instrumental in the foundation and teaching of the CHEF homeschool cooperative. Carol was also dedicated teaching her adult Sunday School class and improving her gardening skill by becoming a master gardener. Carol loved animals and cherished abundant cats and kittens, which the grandchildren loved naming. As a previous breast cancer survivor, she ran 5Ks to raise money for breast cancer.
Carol is survived by her brother, James Toth, and his wife, Dotty, of Pottstown, Pa., Susan Toth Cohen and her husband, Dennis Cohen, of Cherry Hill, N.J., two stepdaughters, Margaret Lynn “Margie” Gray and her husband, Owen, of Silver City, N.M., and Donna Osborne-Kesner of Eureka Springs, and her step-son Bill Arnold and his wife, Pam, of Conway, and eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 39 years and her parents. In spite of experiencing cognitive difficulties, the last few years of Carol’s life were filled with joy, thanks to her two incredible stepdaughters Donna and Margie, who fully included her in their everyday lives with family and friends.
Donations may be made to the Conway Animal Shelter or Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Society
Interment is in McNew Cemetery in Greenbrier, Ark.