Kenneth Arnold

Kenneth V. Arnold, III, of Arlington, TX, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, in Dallas, Texas, after a long and courageous health battle. He was 82 years old.

Ken was born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana as the oldest of nine brothers and sisters. He graduated from Warren Central High School in 1961 and joined the United States Army in September of that year. He honorably served his country during the Vietnam War from 1966-1967 in the 1st brigade, 101st Airborne Division with a total of 860 combat flight hours as a combat helicopter pilot. During his time in Vietnam, he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Cross medals for his heroism, 21 Air Medals for heroism, the Bronze Star for meritorious service in the performance of duty and the Army Commendation Medal of Valor. His final 10 weeks, he was chosen as the principal pilot for the deputy brigade commander, an honor in and of itself. Despite his desire to return to combat, he respected his mother’s wishes and returned home to serve as a helicopter pilot instructor in Fort Stewart, Ga. until 1969. Ken retired from the Army as Chief Warrant Officer (W4) after serving 7 years of active duty and 18 years of reserve service.

The sky was Ken’s lifelong calling. As a police helicopter pilot, for the Indianapolis Police Department (1970-1978) he helped establish one of the first helicopter air ambulances in the nation. He later moved to Oklahoma City and started the first of its’ kind onshore oilfield helicopter transport services, while also operating hospital med evac helicopter and Sky 5 KOCO TV news helicopter. This business moved him to North Texas where continued to operate a helicopter business in which he held the local NBC Channel 5 TV Station and several local radio station contracts, KXAS and KPLX. His work at Channel 5 earned him two Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2008, he was awarded by Bell Helicopter for 22,000 pristine flight hours in Bell Helicopter models for a spotless record that showed zero FAA violations. His extensive aviation career also included surviving two inflight engine failures with remarkably no casualties due to his expert piloting. To say he was an excellent helicopter pilot was a gross understatement.

Aside from his military and professional accomplishments, he was known by his family and friends as one of the nicest, funniest guys you’d ever meet. He believed there were no strangers, only friends he hadn’t met yet. He offered warm words to the cashier at the hardware store, easy laughter to the person standing behind him in the checkout line, and wherever he went, he left people a little lighter than he found them. Kenneth lived with an open heart and a rare sincerity, extending kindness freely to anyone who entered his orbit. If you spent any time with him, you knew he was a gifted storyteller who could hold a room, generously sharing the stories of his remarkable life with anyone willing to listen.

Despite all his obvious accomplishments in his lifetime, to Ken, the greatest of those were his six children who he loved immensely. And to his children, he served as a constant source of strength and light, especially during life’s darkest moments, when he always found a way to offer reassurance, guidance, and hope.

Ken is survived by his children: Kenneth Arnold IV, Gregory Arnold, Heather Arnold Hargis (Brian Hargis), and Kennah Arnold-Quirk (Shaun Quirk); his grandchildren: Matthew Arnold, Rylee Arnold Ocker, Skylar Arnold Koster, Brianna Medina Arnold and Mia Hargis; and his five great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters: Paula Carson, Elaine Fox, Rosemary Baker, Lorraine Hon, and Vivian Arnold; and his brothers, William Arnold, and Robert Arnold.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Louis Arnold; his parents, Kenneth Arnold II, and Dorothy Symmes Arnold; his son, Theodore Arnold; and his daughter, Leigh Anne Arnold. The reunion in Heaven must have been beautiful.

Kenneth will be remembered as a loving, devoted father, a hero to his family, a steadfast friend to many and a man whose laughter, stories, and generosity of spirit filled every room he entered. His legacy of love, courage, and light will live on in all those whose lives he touched.

He will be missed beyond words and loved forever.