Baxter Arnold
Baxter W. Arnold Jr., 94, of Sterling, died peacefully surrounded by his family during the early morning of June 27, 2019, at Sterling Regional MedCenter. He was born in Granite City, Illinois.
Mr. Arnold spent much of his childhood growing up in rural Pennsylvania outside Philadelphia. He was the oldest of five boys and the son of a steel worker and his mother was a homemaker. His father built tank turrets during World War II and died at a young age from lung complications.
Baxter enlisted in the Army immediately after graduation from high school and entered into service April of 1943. He was selected for the engineering branch of the Army, but the Army closed the program and sent the soldiers to train for the infantry.
He was assigned to the 102nd Infantry Division and landed in France after D-Day. He was wounded in Germany and received a Purple Heart and later a commendation from the government of France for his service.
Upon being discharged, he attended Temple University and the University of Colorado School of Law and graduated in 1952. He met and married Janet Allen in 1952 and moved to Sterling and joined the Vance Austin law firm.
In 1954 he established the firm Arnold and Ross with Richard “Dick” Ross. In 1965 the firm became Arnold, Ross and Leh when Jim Leh joined the firm. Later Michael Singer joined after Jim Leh was appointed district judge. Mr. Arnold continued his law practice with various partners until his retirement in 2010.
Mr. Arnold was deputy district attorney, Logan County judge for 27 1/2 years, municipal judge for Fleming, Merino and Crook, vice president of Colorado Bar Association and president of the 13th Judicial District Bar Association.
He was an active member of Sterling First Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years and served many years on the Session and as clerk of the Session, vice moderator of Boulder Presbytery and member of Board of Trustees for Boulder Presbytery.
Additionally, he was active in many professional, community and service organizations.
Mr. Arnold was preceded in death by his parents, Baxter W. and Allene Arnold Sr.; wife, Janet Arnold; son, David Arnold; stepdaughter, Susan (Patterson) Mansheim; wife, Dorothy (Torres) Arnold; and brothers, Robert, Roy and John.
He is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter, Susan Bayne and husband Randy; son, Tim Arnold and wife Carol; grandchildren, Leticia Sejkora, B.J. Sejkora, Andrew Bayne and wife Christina, Jacob Bayne and wife Amanda, Dalton Bayne and wife Tina, Caitlin Arnold, Josiah Arnold and Sean Arnold; stepchildren, Jerilyn Hall, Peggy Thompson and husband Dwayne, and Kirk Patterson and wife Lori; step-grandchildren, Ryan Thompson and wife Elizabeth, Jana Mondragon and husband Greg, Luke Pennington, Chad Patterson and wife Kacie, Derek Patterson and wife Kaitlin, and Mark Patterson and wife Olivia; brother, Tom Arnold and wife Pat; stepson-in-law, Bill Mansheim; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held June 30 at First Presbyterian Church in Sterling with Reverend Tim Lister officiating. Services concluded at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church, NECO Feral Cat Coalition or a charity of the donor’s choice, c/o Tennant Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1547, Sterling, CO 80751.
Tennant Funeral Home in Sterling was in charge of arrangements.