Ionie Arnold Groce, 90, passed away at Twin Rivers Health and Rehab in Arkadelphia on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.
Born near Hampton on March 5, 1919, Ionie was the third of ten children born to Arthur and Bernie Thomason. She is predeceased by her parents; husbands, H.D. Arnold and Nolan Groce; brothers, Travis Thomason, Jack Thomason, Boyce Thomason; a sister, Ethel Robbins; and a step son, Gary Groce.
In 1938 Ionie was voted “Prettiest Girl” of her Hampton High School graduating class. That same year she married H. D. and they lived in Little Rock and Monticello, before moving to Bearden to enter the grocery store business. In 1944 they resettled in Sparkman to establish H.D. Arnold Grocery and Market, which they operated for over 40 years. During those years she also owned and operated the Sparkman Café. Together they ran a cattle, poultry, cotton and soybean farming business and were named Dallas County and District Farm Family of the Year in 1968. They were two of the founding owners and directors of Hillcrest Care Center in Prescott and Twin Rivers Health and Rehab in Arkadelphia. For several years she served as chairperson for the American Red Cross in Dallas County. With her second husband she spent the retirement years of her life enjoying traveling, visiting with children and grandchildren, attending Clark County Cattlemen’s Association meetings, and gardening. Throughout all her years in Sparkman, a top priority was her membership in First Baptist Church, where she served many years as a Sunday school teacher and in other leadership roles.
Alzheimer’s lessened her ability to enjoy the fullness of the last years of her life, but it will never diminish the distinguishing flavor her vibrant character added to the lives of those who knew and loved her. She will long be remembered for these things: her undying love for her family, her fervent devotion to her Lord and her Baptist faith, her expressive personality, her candid and humorous remarks, her positive attitude, boundless energy and lifelong passion for hard work. She could fill a room with laughter and incessant conversation, and could have served as the inspiration for the book Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do. Thinking back on the title given her in high school, we can now see that she lived out the old adage, “pretty is as pretty does”. The hard times and the good times melded to make hers a beautiful life. We can smile when we picture her, with perfectly coiffed hair, literally running into the open arms of Jesus, hugging Him tightly, and planting an emphatic kiss on His cheek.
She is survived by a daughter, Lynda Gladney of New York City, N.Y.; two sons Glen Arnold and wife Judy of Benton, and Eddie Arnold and wife Dinah of Arkadelphia; two step sons, Bill Groce and wife Kathy of Little Rock, Tom Groce and wife Teresa of West Monroe, LA; a daughter-in-law, Ann Groce Johnson and husband Matt of Benton. Also surviving are three brothers, Harold Thomason of Hampton, J.C. Thomason of Marshall, TX, and Clifton Thomason of El Dorado; two sisters, Zoe Sherman, and Dorothy Shirey, both of El Dorado; twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express gratitude to the staff of Twin Rivers for their daily care for her and treating her as if she were their own mother. Their dedication exemplifies the quality of care goals she set forth in her earlier years’ work, advocating for long term care.
Visitation will be on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. at Welch Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 14, at 2pm at First Baptist Church in Sparkman with Reverend Wade Toddy officiating and burial will follow at Sparkman Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Sparkman. To share memories of Ionie please visit www.welchfh.net.
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