Alathea Mae Arnold, 95 years, of Fort Madison, Iowa died at 1:57 a.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the Fort Madison Community Hospital, Fort Madison, Iowa. She was born September 24, 1915 at Kahoka, Missouri, a daughter of Jess and Naomi (Briggs) Tollman. On Februay 11, 1933, she married Fred B. Arnold at Carthage, Illinois. He preceded her in death on October 9, 1973. Alathea had been a resident of the area most of her life. She was a homemaker and worked on their family farm. She also work for 7 years at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant and cooked at the Kings Daughters Home for a couple of years. She was of the Christian Faith. She enjoyed gardening and playing bingo.

She is survived by two sons, Fred R. (wife Sharon) Arnold, of Fort Madison, Iowa and Jess (wife Brenda) Arnold, of Fort Madison, Iowa; two daughters: Naomi Hansen, of Blue Springs, Missouri and Debbie (husband Richard) Petty, of Fort Madison, Iowa; four sisters: Justine Tieman, of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Irene Whittemore, of Dallas City, Illinois; Betty James, of Nevada; and Helen Wiebler, of Texas; 10 grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two daughters, Helen Wyatt and Lydia Woods; three sisters, Lelia Eschman, Mabel Stein, and Emma Pranger; and one grandson, Dennis Purinton.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at the Barr Memorial Chapel, with Pastor Bill Willis officiating. Private burial will be held at the Fairview Cemetery, rural Fort Madison, Iowa. A memorial has been established for PAWS, contributions may be made at the Barr Memorial Chapel.