Harold "Hap" Arnold

Harold “Hap” Arnold, 83, of Smiths Station, Al died while at Piedmont Columbus Midtown, Columbus, GA on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Graveside Services with U. S. Air Force Honors will be held at 10:00 AM (EST) on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery according to Vance Brooks Funeral Home, Phenix City, AL.

Mr. Arnold was born October 28, 1941, in Hartwell, GA, son of the late Samuel Sanders Arnold and Margaret Neese Arnold. He held two associate degrees, a Bachelor of Science from Troy University in Business: A Master’s degree from Golden Gate University in Engineering Management with minor in Math and Physics.

Mr. Arnold retired from the U. S. Air Force after 29 years of service retiring as Master Sergeant. During his career he developed or improved numerous aspects of laser guided munitions and their guidance systems. It has been said of him that he was “one of the grandfathers of laser guidance systems”. Before his retirement he was named the NCO for the quarter and the year while at Edwards Air Force Base. A great accomplishment that he was proud to achieve.

After Operation El Dorado Canyon, RAF Lakenheath, the Air Force base the carried out this mission was awarded a Navy Citation in part to the work he was doing at the time. This was unusual for the Navy awarded this to a non-Naval unit.

He was a man whose mind never stopped working on fixing or improving something. In fact, he holds several patents for improvements on tools while working for Snap-On Tools.

He was not a presumptions man; he looked just like anyone else you might meet on the street. The difference was he was very intelligent and was willing to use this for the betterment of our country and community.

Mr. Arnold was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Margaret Arnold; three sisters, Betty Price, Shirley Cox and an infant; two children, Jimmy Ray Arnold and CPT (Ret) Teresa Ann Arnold.

Survivors include his wife, Marko Radeen Ross Arnold, Smiths Station, AL; two sons, Michael Shaun Arnold (Heather) and Dakota Ray (Ashley); a brother, Scott Arnold; two special grandchildren, Emily Claire Arnold and Amanda Dawn Arnold Cheatham; other grandchildren; special nephews, Jared and Riley Linney; several friends.