Dr. William Parsons Arnold, Jr died Monday, June 15, 2009 at his home in Middlebury. He was born May 10, 1922 in Waterbury, the son of William Parsons and Dorothy Granniss Arnold. He is survived by his beloved bride of 60 years Mildred Beleu, daughter Susan Brainerd, daughter Jane Pittari and her husband John Pittari; grandchildren Jason Brainerd and his wife Christine, Ryan Brainerd and his wife Kasey, Rachel Pittari, Lucinda Pittari, and Claire Pittari; great-grandchildren Joshua, Isabelle and Ethan Brainerd; nephews Jon Arnold and David Arnold. He was predeceased by his brother Charles Granniss Arnold, niece Wendy Smith, and nephew Chip Arnold.
Dr Arnold graduated from Phillips-Andover Academy, Yale University 1943, and Columbia Medical School 1946. He interned at St Luke's Hospital in NYC until he joined the Army where he served as a Captain in the Medical Core 1947 - 1949. While stationed in Germany, he met and married Mildred. He returned to a residency at St Luke's until they moved to Middlebury in 1952. He was an Attending Physician at Waterbury Hospital and an Associate Attending at St Mary's Hospital 1952 - 1989, as well as having a private practice.
Dr Arnold served as the Director of Health for the Town of Middlebury 1954 - 2005. He served as School Physician for Region 15 Elementary Schools 1955 - 1992 and Assistant Medical Examiner for Connecticut State ME office Middlebury 1956 - 1984. He served as Surgeon for the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department and the Middlebury Police Department 1964 - 2005. He served as Medical Director for the Middlebury Convalescent Home 1962 - 1990.
Dr Arnold was the recipient of the John N. Lewis Founders Award from the Waterbury Visiting Nurse Association in 1988.
Dr Arnold was a devoted horseman and could often be seen doing his rounds at the hospital in his cowboy boots and hat. He rode in rodeos in Durham and NY state. He was an old-fashioned general practitioner, making house calls to his patients until he retired from private practice in 1989. He held a special love for the Town of Middlebury and over the years walked hundreds of miles in town, picking up thousands of bottles and cans - one more thing he could do to make life for everyone else a little better.

Memorials: Donations in his memory may be made to the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 965, Middlebury, CT 06762 or Doctors Without Borders, 333 7th Ave 2nd Floor, NYC, NY 10001 www.doctorswithoutborders.org.

Cemetery: Middlebury Cemetery

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Funeral: Church Not Applicable

Services: Burial will be at the Middlebury Cemetery at 10 am, Saturday, June 20 followed by a Memorial Service at the Middlebury Congregational Church at 11: 00 am.

Visitation: Calling hours will be on Friday, June 19 at the Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 2 School St., from 5 - 8 pm.