Billy (Bill) Thomas Arnold

Billy (Bill) Thomas Arnold, 93 years old of Salem, Virginia, died on December 14, 2023, in Roanoke, Virginia, under the loving care of Good Samaritan Hospice and his daughters. Bill was born in Radford, Virginia, on October 21, 1930, to David E. and Flora M. Arnold. Bill met his future wife, Eulalia Ellen Martin, in front of the Radford pool hall in 1950. They married in 1951 and immediately departed for his Army service in El Paso, Texas. Following the service, he worked for 40 years as a Sales Engineer at General Electric in Salem where, in spite of not having a college degree, he became a successful and praised salesman of industrial equipment for the textile industry. His business travels took him to Germany and South America.

After retirement, Bill and Ellen traveled the world, were active with the Virginia Museum of Transportation and were founding members of the O. Winston Link Museum. They worked directly with O. Winston Link to fulfill his wishes for the type of museum that would display his marvelous photographs and preserve the legacy of the steam era as well as Mr. Link’s engineering expertise. They continued to support the museum with the opening of the Radford Gallery and established the Link Legacy Fund.

Bill loved the Roanoke Valley and its railroading history, but he also was supportive of many other organizations such as the Taubman Museum of Art, Center in the Square and many nonprofits that improved the lives of community residents. He had a heart for the unhoused and the hungry. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Salem, Virginia.

Bill had a sweet, energetic personality and he became sweeter in his final days, always smiling and surprising people with his subtle wit. He was a good father and husband, always kissed Ellen goodbye and told his girls that he loved them. He was a consummate do-it-yourselfer and had a workshop collection of screws, lumber pieces and broken small appliances from which to source the solution to any mechanical problem. But his legacy to the world will be his positive attitude, honesty, generosity, and how to be a good person.

Bill and Ellen were married for 67 years and were the proud parents of Delores Gordon (Jerry) of Winchester and Lynne Yates (Joe) of Hollins and grandparents to Rev. Rachel Gordon Plemmons (Joseph) of Front Royal.

Bill was predeceased by his wife, Ellen Arnold; his sister, Joanne Ridpath, and son-in-law, Joe Yates.

Please no flowers; however, it would please Bill for donations to be made in his memory to the O. Winston Link Museum, 101 Shenandoah Ave., NE, Roanoke, VA 24016. All services will be private.