Mikdred L. Arnold

Mildred Arnold, 86, formerly of East Moline and Orion, Illinois, died Sunday, January 30, 2011, in Good Samaritan Village, Geneseo.

Services are 11:00 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church, Moline, with The Reverends Flint and Deb Miller officiating. Visitation is 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline. Additional visitation is one hour prior to services Friday. Burial is in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Boonville, Missouri. Memorials may be made to the church.

Mildred Lee Arnold was born August 6, 1924, in Boonville, Missouri, the daughter of William Lee and Martha Elizabeth (Hornbeck) Arnold. Mildred graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, with a Masters Degree in Education.

Her career was focused on Christian Education in a wide range of locations and capacities including Minister of Education at First Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, being involved in ?Winning the Children of Christ? program for the American Baptist Board of Education Ministries, Minister of Education for the Illinois Baptist State Convention, Curriculum Consultant for the ABC of Educational Ministries, Minister of Christian Education for the ABC of the Pacific Southwest, Director of Christian Education for First Baptist Church in Los Angeles, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Council of Churches, and Community Ministry at the Los Angeles YWCA, in a program recognized as a special ministry by the ABC.

She received numerous awards including the Richard Hoiland Citation for Christian Education in 1997, a top honor from the Board of Educational Ministries, an Award of Appreciation for service at Green Lake, Wisconsin, from the American Baptist Assembly, the Arlo R. Reichter Distinguished Award from the IFBC in Los Angeles, the Mayor?s Certificate of Appreciation for service from the Mayor of Los Angeles, a Certificate of Recognition in honor on an outstanding woman by the California Legislature Assembly, an Appreciation Award from the Southern California and Los Angeles Baptist City Mission Society, and was recognized as one of the Women of the Year from First Baptist Church, Moline, in 2004.

Mildred had over 56 years of faithful service with the American Baptist Church since her ordination, most recently serving in many capacities of leadership and Christian teaching for First Baptist Church, Moline, and was very passionate about mission work. She was an avid reader, enjoyed traveling and attending the symphony, and loved to entertain.

Mildred is survived by numerous friends and her church family, including Willie and Don Phillis of Moline. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a candle in Mildred?s memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.