| Matthew Eric Arnold, 53, passed away Saturday evening, Sept. 1, 2018, at his home following an extended illness.
Son of Herbert (Neal) and Joyce Newell (of Calhoun) Arnold, Matthew was born on July 6, 1965 in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He was a 1983 graduate of Federal Hocking High School, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Ohio University in 1987.
Matt worked in the newspaper business all of his professional life, including the last 28 years for The Youngstown Vindicator where he was currently the Design Desk Chief after previously serving as Sports Editor. Matt was named Best Headline Writer in the annual Ohio AP newspaper competition in 2013 and 2016. The Vindicator staff will remember Matt as a vigilant editor, trusted co-worker, and a great friend. Previously, Matt worked for The Athens Messenger, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, and The Jeffersonian in Cambridge, Ohio.
In his younger years, Matt was a member of Torch Baptist Church in Torch, Ohio. Matt loved God, family, friends, the OU Bobcats, his Buckeyes, and like his father he loved to get behind the wheel and travel.
Matt leaves behind the love of his life, Lorie Little Arnold, whom he married Dec. 6, 2014; a son, Stephen Arnold of Youngstown; a stepson, Larry Armes of Salem; his mother, Joyce Arnold of Vienna, West Virginia; a grandson, Leyton Arnold; two step-grandchildren; two brothers, Mark (Tammy) Arnold of St. Louis, MO and Jon (Amy Jo) Arnold of Nashville, TN; a sister, Tammy (Mike) Whitnable of Vincent; a mother-in-law, Gail Little of Austintown, OH; and many extended family members and friends.
Matt was preceded in death by a daughter, Jennifer, his father, Herbert Neal Arnold, and grandparents, Roy and Marie Arnold and Claude and Mabel Newell.
A celebration of Matt's life will take place Saturday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. at Porterfield Baptist Church, 39 Hollywood Dr., Little Hocking, OH 45742.
Matt's family requests that anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution do so by donating to the Epilepsy Foundation, in memory of Matt's daughter, Jennifer, through www.epilepsy.com on the "Ways to Give" page. |
