Paul Arnold Obituary

Paul William "Bob" Arnold

March 18, 2023

Paul William "Bob" Arnold, 84, of Kingsport, went home to his Heavenly Father on Saturday, March 18, 2023. Paul passed away quietly in his sleep after a brief illness.

Paul was born in Kingsport, Tennessee and was a 1957 Lynn View High School graduate. During his high school years, he played basketball, baseball, football and ran track. Paul lettered in three sports, was selected for all-conference and was voted Senior Superlative for Most Athletic.

Later in life, Paul claimed how his small stature as a youth never discouraged him from achieving his dream of playing high school sports. With time and dedication, his soon 6'2" striking athletic physique would come to dominate basketball headlines, spotlighting his court prowess and signature, now called, "3-point shooters." Paul's hard work and drive earned him a full basketball scholarship to Tennessee Wesleyan College.

Once Paul graduated from high school, he served in the military as a Corporal with the Army's Field Artillery Regiment in Babenhausen, Germany. Earning an Honorable Discharge from the military, Paul was quickly recalled to Fort Meade, Maryland for a second tour of duty during the Korean Conflict. His remarkable aptitude and leadership abilities earned him high recommendation for Officer Candidate School.

After having a family, Paul's love for sports flourished, as he went on to coach boy's Pee-Wee basketball, baseball and football with the Lynn Garden Optimist Club. Paul believed that the fundamentals of playing sports were compatible to valuable lifelong cornerstones and he took great care and interest in sharing his knowledge and skills with his young players. While head coach for the Cowboys, Paul, proudly, led his football team to two consecutive season championships. His unwavering dedication and enthusiasm as a mentor, made him highly respected and beloved within the sports' community.

Career wise, Paul's life trade in printing, ironically, began on the picket lines of the Kingsport Press. Shortly after, he was appointed an apprenticeship at Pressman Home, where he earned the trade of preprinting. It was in the state of Indiana, where he would plant his initial roots within the workings of the printing industry. It was there, that his proven overall business savvy and professional rapport afforded him such notable clients as Norman P. Rockwell. Over time, Paul's genuine astute and charismatic zeal for public speaking catapulted him to enjoy much success in printing sales. At the time of Paul's retirement from Interstate Graphics in Johnson City, Tennessee, he held the company's leading sales accounts, which included K-VA-T Foods, CBN, and the Bristol Motor Speedway.

Once retired, Paul gladly took on the arduous endeavor of gardening. He tremendously enjoyed the awe beauty and wonder of nature and took great pleasure in sharing his bounty with family and friends as well as donating to local charities.

Through his love for life, Paul would fondly reminisce about his early childhood. While his family lived for a short time on the coast of the state of Washington, he recalled how his patriotic charm roused as he excitedly anticipated the passing arrival of WWII ships. Once he returned home, his hardworking work ethic blossomed, as well, as he would pick blackberries for a quarter and walk the hills of Dry Holler delivering Kingsport Times-News newspapers.

It was Paul's frequented childhood "swim hole" on the Holston North Fork River, that would decades later become the chosen location to build his house and to raise his family. Paul was a God-fearing man, loyal husband, devoted father and grandfather who lived his life by faith. He was a self-taught carpenter, a sports enthusiast, and an avid reader who immensely enjoyed history. During his service to the church, Paul taught Sunday school, was a member of the choir, and also served as a deacon.

Paul professed, "The most important thing is your relationship with Jesus Christ." He was a true patriarch and a strong light to those who knew him. It was a true blessing to have known him.

He was greatly loved and is dearly missed.

Submitted by: His daughter, Becky Louise Hamblin, and grandson, Jonathan Michael Hamblin