Leck Warren Arnold's Obituary
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Leck Warren Arnold was born 15 October 1945 in Corpus Christi, TX to Lester Ward and Ruth Inez Arnold. Leck passed away on 13 March 2024 in Plano TX surrounded by love.
Leck grew up in Corpus Christi spending as much time as possible on the Port Aransas beach as well as playing golf. He graduated from Roy Miller High School in 1963 and went on to Del Mar Junior College where his love of math and numbers grew.
Leck joined the US Air Force 4 March 1966 as a disbursement accounting specialist. He enjoyed being stationed in Sattahip, Thailand. On 8 December 1969 he accepted an honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant.
Leck met the love of his life, Carol Michelle Green, when they both served at Brooks AFB. Due to overseas deployments in opposite hemispheres, their relationship had its ups and downs at the start. When they could be together, dates often involved beach picnics. One night, at the beach, was famously cut short by an escaped bull from the King Ranch running loose. Carol would never again doubt Leck’s insistence they “should go to the car now!” Leck proposed in August of 1971, giving Carol an actual engagement ring to replace the matching beer can tabs he had sent in a letter the previous Valentine’s Day.
Leck’s numerous interests included the beach, romantic picnics, traveling, grilling of any sort, serving as Carol’s sous chef and taste tester. He loved music, particularly smooth jazz. He enjoyed a good single malt scotch or an afternoon champagne which sometimes led to him twirling Carol around the kitchen while he belted out his own rendition of “Scotch and Soda” with apologies to the Kingston Trio.
He was an avid golfer. His biggest golf story was his hole-in-one in 1967 with a 4 wood on a 203-yard hole at Olmos Basin Golf Course in Corpus Christi. He was also an adventurer, at heart, and loved to see what was around the next corner. Famous for his “short cuts” that turned into countryside expeditions.
Leck loved gathering friends and family for fun, food, and fellowship. He was always interested in everyone’s latest doings, and one always felt seen and heard when talking with him.
Leck steadfastly encouraged and supported Carol throughout her professional achievements, even when her own confidence wavered. She describes her “Bear” as her safe haven and the wind beneath her wings. Leck never protested about Carol’s time away for work, perhaps because that was his time to sneak in some fried food.
Leck fought a 10-year battle with cancer, pain, and serious cardiac issues. No complaints, no ‘feel sorry for me’, no whining. Just simple grace, perseverance, mettle, and quiet courage.
Leck is survived by the girl he fell in love with 58 years ago--Carol Arnold, his two sisters--Shirley Hammett and Jean Turner, 6 nieces--Deborah, Karen, Gwen, Cindy, Cathy, and Carrie as well as many more family, friends, and ohana.
A memorial service will be held 6 April 2024 at 2:00 pm at Restland Funeral Home on Greenville Avenue in Dallas, inside the Wildwood Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Leck’s honor to Operation Kindness, in Carrollton, TX or to the Salvation Army of North Texas Angel Tree.
If you were lucky enough to have known the gentle, kind, loving soul with a slightly impish sense of humor who was Leck, consider yourself lucky. He is deeply missed by many.
“In one of those stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so, it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night. And when your sorrow is comforted, you will be content you have known me.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
A Memorial Service in Leck's honor will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. in Restland's Wildwood Chapel. A map of the cemetery is linked below:
https://www.restlandfuneralhome.com/download/187794/map.pdf
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