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In memory of

Lewis "Lew" B Arnold

Chewelah, WA, USA

May 31, 1946 - January 22, 2021

May 31, 1946 - Jan 22, 2021

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Lewis (Lew) Arnold, of Chewelah, Washington, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2021.

Lew was born May 31, 1946 in Seattle, WA to Grace and Edward (Ed) Arnold, the oldest of three children. He graduated from Bothell High School, followed by undergraduate work in psychology at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.

After several years at Washington State University, Lew joined the U.S. Army to serve his country during the Vietnam War. He completed Basic and Advance Infantry Training at Fort Lewis, Washington. Further training involved Infantry Officer Candidate School and Airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Lew then completed advanced training in Special Forces including: Jumpmaster; Special Atomic Demolition Munitions (SADM); Winter Warfare at Fort Greely Alaska; and Jungle Warfare at Fort Gulick, Panama Canal Zone.

With the 5th Special Forces Group, Lew (known by his fellow soldiers as “Rock”) was assigned to the highly classified Studies & Operations Group “SOG” Unit at Command and Control South (CCS) near Ban Me Thout in the Republic of Vietnam. As the Exploitation Platoon Leader, he led a group of 30 Montagnards in the Central Highlands of Vietnam along the Cambodian border, completing top secret missions to rescue American prisoners of war and disrupt the Viet Cong supply lines through Cambodia and Laos. The SOG unit and their missions remained highly classified until 2003 when the SOG unit received the Presidential Unit Citation. During his service, Lew received the Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star for heroic achievement in Vietnam.

Following discharge from active duty, Lew served for five years in the U.S. Army Reserves with the 12th Special Forces Group in Spokane, Washington. He was forever proud of his service for his country and fondly remembered the soldiers with whom he served.

In 1971 Lew married Linda Absalonson and welcomed their first son, Robb. Shortly thereafter Lew completed his undergraduate studies at Washington State University and then obtained his Juris Doctorate at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington on May 11, 1975. After law school, Lew and Linda moved to Colville, Washington where he began his law practice and continued their family, welcoming two more sons, Jared and Trevor (T.J.).

In 1982 Lew’s marriage to Linda was dissolved, and he later married Wilma “Joy-Lynn” Morton. They had two sons, Brandon and Ryan, and resided primarily in Chewelah until their marriage ended in 1990.

Lew continued to reside in Chewelah, where he was the longtime editor of The Independent and author of the popular and long-running “Question Guy” article, which he has been affectionately associated with since. His friends and family recall his sharp wit and demeanor, from his days in high school through his final days.

Lew was preceded in death by his parents, Edward “Ed” and Grace Arnold. He is survived by his five sons, Robb (Heather) Arnold of Ridgefield, WA, Jared (Andrea) Arnold of Chewelah, WA, Trevor “T.J.” (Joe Sysavath) Arnold of Molalla, OR, Brandon Arnold of Spokane, WA, and Ryan Arnold of Houston, TX; four grandchildren, Hayden, Grace, Avery, and Nora; brother, Larry Arnold of Chewelah, WA, sister, Lynn (Jay) Charleston of Issaquah, WA, and long-time partner, Judith Larson.

A private memorial service and ash interment will follow at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Lew’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org)

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