Class of 1956
1956 Maroon Spotlight
Mary Lou Hodge
Office Staff 55-56, Junior Play 54-55.
1956 Graduation EditionPerry Daily Journal
Mary Lou Hodge, 17, attended Fairview school in grades one through eight before coming to Perry high. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn H. Hodge, route 4, Perry. Mary Lou was born Aug. 2, 1938, in Perry. Her favorite subject is home economics, and her hobby is sewing. Miss Hodge, who plans to attend Oklahoma A. & M. college, served on the school office staff this year.
Mary Lou (Hodge) Arnold
August 2, 1938 – February 28, 2025
Mary Lou (Hodge) Arnold left our earthly world on February 28, 2025, and went to her eternal home after a brief illness.
Born in Perry, Oklahoma, on August 2, 1938, she was the daughter of Glenn and Esther Hodge. She graduated from Perry High School in 1956.
Soon after graduation, a friend asked her to write an airman he knew who was stationed in Wichita, KS. That airman turned out to be the love of her life. She and Charles (Chuck) Arnold were married on May 3, 1957, at Zion Lutheran Church in Perry, OK. Mary loved military life! Her daughter, Kim, was born in Wichita, KS; her son, Kevin was born in Anchorage, AK; and her son, Keith, was born in Montgomery, AL. Chuck was sent to Viet Nam and Mary and the kids returned to Perry. After Chuck’s tour was complete, the Arnolds remained in Perry where they opened the first Sears Roebuck and Catalog store and became the “Sears people” for the next 15 years.
Their next adventure took them to Edmond, OK. Mary became a salesperson for J.C. Penney’s working at Quail Springs and Penn Square Malls. She was an excellent salesperson and the recipient of many awards while at Penny’s. After 20 years, Mary retired and enjoyed the life that she and Chuck had built together. After Chuck’s passing, Mary moved in with Kim and her boys.
Preceding her in death were her husband Chuck of 65 years, her parents Glenn and Esther Hodge, her sister Carolyn Sue (Hodge) Smith, and her brother Leroy Hodge.
She leaves behind her daughter Kim Arnold from Edmond; her son and his wife, Kevin and Pat Arnold from Perry; her son and his wife, Keith and Cindy Arnold from Vian; her grandchildren Kalin and Caleb Herren, Karlie Arnold, Robert and Megan Schulze, Grayson Arnold, and Sylas Arnold; great-grand children Caden Herren and Paisley Schulze; family friend, Estelle Bahm, brother-in-law, Jim Smith and nephews Cory, Toby, and Eric Smith.
Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Stonegate Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 17101 N. Western Ave., Edmond, OK. Interment will take place at 3:00 PM at Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry, OK.