Thaddeus Roy Arnold, Jr. (Thad) stepped into the arms of Jesus, his Lord and Savior on July 25, 2024. He is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Emily McCallum Arnold. He was the son of the late Thaddeus Roy Arnold, Sr. and Arbelia Moore Arnold and the doting big brother to the late Lena Dot Arnold Templeton. He is survived by his son, Philip Arnold, and his wife Kathy and his daughter, Susan Dyar, and her husband, Wes. Thad is also survived by four grandsons who trusted, respected, depended on and adored him. They are Bruce Spigener, and his wife Amanda, Shuler Spigener, and his wife Kate, Jacob Arnold and Cal Arnold. He was blessed with great grandchildren, Easton Spigener, Eli Spigener, Sullivan Spigener, Camille Spigener and the late Evan Kinley. Thad is also loved by step grandchildren, Leslie Gifford, and her husband Rick, Ashley Ragle, and her husband Chad and their children Blake Ragle, and his wife Emily, Caitlyn Gifford, Bryce Ragle, and Blaine Ragle.

Born in Elizabethton, TN, on April 13, 1930, Thad graduated from Anderson Boys High. He spent his college years at Clemson College and upon graduation served his country in the US Army in the Korean Conflict. Shortly after returning home safely, he married Emily, his high school sweetheart, and remained in Anderson. Together, they served their Lord Jesus as members of First Presbyterian Church where Thad was a deacon and later an elder. He particularly took pleasure as chairman of the property committee in using his engineering gifts to attend to maintaining the building and facilities. He and Emily proudly initiated the "Kirking of the Tartans," a celebration on or near Reformation Sunday on which Protestant Christians remember the onset of the Reformation. He is known for donning his kilt made of the Grant tartan.

Thad was first employed as a civil engineer with Robinson Engineering Service. He later worked for Russell and Axon Architects and Engineers. He then co-founded Design South Architects and Engineers where he was the lead telecommunications engineer for many telephone companies in South Carolina. The owners and employees of these companies became far more than work associates. He valued them as close life-long friends.

In his time away from work, Thad enjoyed woodworking projects, especially challenging himself to design, make, and refinish furniture. He loved teaching his grandchildren this craft as they joined him in his workshop to make birdhouses, pinewood derby cars and other trinkets.

Thad employed his woodworking skills in benevolent assistance to the Boy Scouts of America. Serving as pack leader at Concord Elementary and member and leader of various boards, he engineered the fishing and swimming lakes and other features at Camp Old Indian. He was awarded the Silver Beaver, the highest honor bestowed by Boy Scouts of America to adult leaders for their impact on the lives of youth.

His desire that all children have positive adult influences led him to work fervently for the maintenance of the Salvation Army Girls and Boys Club. He focused on housing their after school programs in well-maintained and safe facilities. He served on the Salvation Army Board for many years where he helped plan upgrades and maintenance to the adult shelter on Tolly Street and provided other pro bono consultation services.

In his later years, Thad became intrigued with family history. He created an extensive family tree tracing his relatives back to the mid-1500s and Emily's back to the late 1600s. It was through this search that he realized his Scottish ancestry.

The family will receive friends Sunday, July 28, 2024, from 2:00-2:45 pm in the Welcome Center of First Presbyterian Church of Anderson. The funeral service will begin at 3:00 pm in the sanctuary with Dr. Dennis Tedder officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 302 W. Whitner St., Anderson, SC 29624, the Salvation Army, PO Box 43, Anderson, SC 29622, or Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Rd., Anderson, SC 29621.