Services to Be Wednesday for A.E. Arnold of Cypress

Memorial services will be conducted Wednesday for A.E. (Pat) Arnold, a longtime community leader who served as president of the Orange County Board of Education and was a founding councilman in Cypress.

He died Saturday at age 89.

He had been ill for about the last six years and spent his last few days in a convalescent home, said his wife, Katherine Arnold.

Born in Perris in Riverside County in 1902, Arnold was orphaned as a child. He graduated from Fullerton High School and went on to make millions in the oil fields and later in local real estate.

But he made his mark in public service, focusing his activities largely on children.

He served nearly three decades on the Orange County Board of Education, much of that time as president, before retiring in 1984. He also held leadership posts with several local colleges, the Cypress School Board, scholarship funds, Big Brothers of Orange County, a juvenile delinquency board, the Orange County Fair Board and the Red Cross.

An elementary school and a park in Cypress were named after him. And in 1981, the state named him Schoolmaster of the Year for his work in education.

Arnold said of his community activities in a 1971 interview: “This is my life. I enjoy helping kids.”

Then 68, Arnold said he wanted to continue his community work as long as he could.

“I’ve had friends who gave up their activities, and they’re not here anymore. You know what I mean? My wife wouldn’t want me to sit around the house and argue, no sir,” he declared.

But away from the house, Arnold did his share of arguing and was known as a gregarious, controversial figure who could usually be found in the middle of matters of local import.

In addition to his work in education, he helped gain incorporation for the city of Cypress and was elected to its first council. He also had been treasurer of the Orange County Democratic Central Committee and served on many water, planning, parks and recreation boards in Cypress and the local area.

He was also volunteer fire chief in Cypress.

“I wouldn’t want to have to list all his activities,” said Katherine, his wife of 65 years. “He was just that type of person, an active person. . . . And the main thing was always the kids.”

A service for Arnold will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Church of Our Fathers at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, 4471 Lincoln Ave.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Patty Hoyt; two grandsons and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Cypress Community College Scholarship Foundation, 9200 Valley View St., Cypress 90630.