Dorothy "Dottie" Arnold

Dorothy Probst Arnold (“Dottie”), of Elkhart, IN, passed away on Friday, August 29th, 2025, at Hubbard Hill, Living Wisdom Community in Elkhart, IN. Dottie was born on October 4, 1935, at Stuart Circle Hospital in Richmond, VA, to John Paul II and Hazel May Probst. She married Thomas Rudd Arnold on June 11, 1960, in Coshocton, OH. Together they raised two children, Jolie and Tom II (“Tommy”).

Dottie lived in Richmond, VA; Winchester, MA; Longhorn, PA; and Trenton, NJ. She attended Wagner College in Staten Island, NY, and Denison University in Granville, OH. She earned her degree as a radiology technician at Newark Hospital in Newark, OH, and worked in that field for several years before moving to Elkhart in 1965.

Throughout her life, Dottie was involved in many community projects and organizations. She attended the First Presbyterian Church in Elkhart, IN, where she volunteered in various positions and served on the Board of Deacons. In recent years she devoted countless hours to volunteering with the Wellfield Botanical Gardens, Lerner Theatre, Church Community Services and Tri Kappa. Throughout her life she volunteered with the Elkhart County Symphony, Samaritan Center (where she once served as President), The Salvation Army, Bridgework Theatre, Elkhart Jazz Festival Committee, Head of the Elk Regatta, Child Abuse Prevention Services, YMCA, Fight Crime Fund, WNIT PBS station, Faith Mission (“Kids’ Cakes”), Crossroads United Way, and Elkhart Community Hospice. She was also involved in teaching swimming at the “old YMCA” and when her children were younger, she was a parent volunteer at their schools. On October 30, 2002, Dottie received the Lions Club Citizenship Award from Al Bias. In 2014, she received the Arthur J. Decio Volunteer of the Year Award from Crossroads United Way. Dottie was always serving others; she certainly had a servant’s heart.

Dottie was also a member of many social clubs allowing her to connect with others throughout the Elkhart community. She loved to spend time with her friends and family, especially her grandchildren. Dottie enjoyed taking many trips across the United States and the world, during which she made lifelong friends with whom she remained in contact throughout her life.

Dottie supported her husband Tom in his business ventures, keeping his books for many years and traveling with him to conferences around the world.

Dottie is survived by her husband of over 65 years, Tom; their daughter, Jolie Arnold Huffman and her life partner, Rob Umberger of Charlottesville, VA; their son, Thomas Arnold II and his wife, Lorien Clemens of North Bend, WA; grandchildren, Dorothy Amanda Huffman and Sagan Arnold-Clemens; her brother, John Paul Probst III; and several nieces, nephews, and friends, including Dottie’s sister’s children, Jeffrey Jones, Gregory Jones, and JulieAnn Brown, whom she helped care for after her sister’s untimely death in 1970. Dottie was preceded in death by her parents, John Paul II and Hazel Robinson Probst, and her sister, Betty Jane Jones.

In keeping with Dottie’s wishes, there will be a celebration of life service at the First Presbyterian Church, 200 East Beardsley Ave., Elkhart, IN 46514, with date and time to be announced. In lieu of flowers and in memory of Dottie, please make donations to Wellfield Botanical Gardens (www.WellfieldGardens.org), or The Lerner Theatre (www.theLerner.com), where Dottie and Tom remain proud supporters of these two wonderful organizations. Messages of support or remembrance may be shared with her family friends at https://www.facebook.com/groups/DottieArnold