Former mayor Arnold remembered for leadership

CELINA - City officials on Monday night honored the memory of Paul Arnold, a Korean War veteran and pillar of public service who helped lead the city as mayor from 2000 to 2003 and its schools on the board of education from 1978 to 1981.

Mayor Jeff Hazel on Monday morning also ordered flags on city property to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Arnold, who died at 89 on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Health-St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, according to his obituary.

Board president Jason King, before the regular council meeting, called for a moment of silence for Arnold and his family.

"We lost yet another leader in our community," King said, alluding to the Aug. 7 death of Jim Mustard, a former Celina mayor, city council member, Celina City Schools employee and community philanthrope.

Hazel also spoke highly of Arnold later on in the meeting.

"Many of you know he had Bair Pharmacy for a number of years," he said. "The Arnold family certainly has been involved in many different ways in the community and helping employing lots of people and he gave service for four years to the city of Celina, so we certainly want to honor him and think about his family."

Arnold graduated from Celina High School and Ohio Northern University College of Pharmacy and served four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, his obituary states.

In addition to serving as mayor and on the school board, Arnold, a lifelong Celina resident, had sat on the Celina Board of Zoning and was president of Lakefield Airport Authority for three years. He was also a past Celina Chamber of Commerce trustee, his obituary shows.

He was also a lifetime member of Celina's Bethany United Methodist Church, singing with its choir for more than 70 years and volunteering as a lay speaker.

Paul and his wife, Edith, had owned Bair Pharmacy and the Wyckoff Building, and had built and started the Fountain restaurant, all in Celina, the obituary indicates.

The funeral service is at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Bethany United Methodist Church in Celina with the Rev. James Wilson officiating. Calling is from 9:30-10:30 a.m. before the service at the church.

Burial will follow at Swamp College Cemetery in Celina with military rites to be conducted by Celina American Legion Post 210 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5713.

Attendees are encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines dictated by the Ohio Department of Health, due to the national concerns of COVID-19.