Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....(Cobb) Arnold, Alva Lee December 24 2004 ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/obits/obitsca/obitsca.htm ********************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com January 5, 2005, 10:45 pm The Tehachapi News Alva Lee Arnold Oct. 27, 1919 – Dec. 24, 2004 Alva Lee Arnold was born to Ida Mae Cobb in Beaumont, Texas in 1919. She passed away on Dec. 24, 2004. Alva Lee earned her Associate of Arts degree from East Baptist College in Marshall, Texas and while working for Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas, met and married Ernie Arnold in 1943. In 1946 they moved to South Pasadena where they raised their seven children. Alva Lee was a stay-at-home mom for 29 years, raising her children until her youngest was 15. While at home, she raised the bar for those people who volunteered in their neighborhood: as a den mother/cub scout leader, as a girl scout leader, with the Republican Women’s Club, with various Holy Family Church’s organizations and as a volunteer with local civic organizations. In 1966, she was one of the founders of the Committee for the Westerly Route, a South Pasadena volunteer group that fought to relocate the 710 freeway around the western part of the city of South Pasadena, volunteering thousands of hours to save the city of South Pasadena from the destruction of that bad project. For 20 years, from 1966 through 1986, she traveled to every part of the state of California to attend the State Transportation Commission meetings to voice the city’s needs. In 1974, she was elected to the South Pasadena City Council, becoming mayor in 1978. Her license plate, “FWY FTR” depicted her dedication to the cause. Alva Lee’s knowledge and intelligence made her South Pasadena’s “Rock of Gibraltar.” When she left her elected duties, she never stopped supporting the city, even in her 60s and 70s or when her late husband fell and became a quadriplegic. The Beach Boys could have changed their song to “The Little Old Lady from South Pasadena.” Alva Lee was an inspiration to all and simply never quit. In 1970, Alva Lee and Ernie Arnold bought a homestead piece of property in Bear Valley Springs. In 1972, Alva Lee got her real estate license and started selling resort property for Dart Industries, the developer of BVS. She promptly became their top sales person, winning Salesperson of the Year two years in a row — all of this while the mayor of South Pasadena. Having moved to BVS in 1990, she was hardly one to simply fade into retirement. A group of local citizens in Bear Valley Springs wanted a private school. They were not happy with the school district, so they came to Alva Lee and she assisted those five families in creating Vianney Academy. Alva Lee has touched many people’s lives. She gave of herself without looking for any reward. She was a Texan and a southern belle. She was stubborn as a nail, sharp as a tack and as giving as the most generous mother anyone could hope for. Alva Lee is survived by her brother, David Cobb of Quinlan, Texas and a host of good citizens. She leaves her seven children and their families, including 26 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Ernie Arnold. Wood Family Funeral Service handled the arrangements. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to the deceased. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/gob4295cobbarno.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/caobfiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb