Thelma Arnold

Thelma Alice (Foutch) Arnold, long time Seminole resident, passed away on Monday, November 15, 2021 at Cimarron Pointe Care Center in Mannford, Oklahoma, at the age of 76.

Thelma was born December 9, 1944, in Tarzan, Texas, to Thomas Autry “TA” Foutch and Rhoda Lee (Boren) Foutch on the kitchen table of her family’s tin-roofed home. Her family then moved to Seminole, Texas, where Thelma grew up and later graduated from Seminole High School.

Thelma married Jerry Bob Arnold in Seminole Texas in 1963 at her parent’s house. They soon moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico, and welcomed their first daughter, Terri Lyn. A year later they moved to Seminole, Oklahoma, two years later they welcomed their second daughter, Heather Angela.

Thelma was born with an outstanding artistic talent that began with her drawing on the school chalkboard during recess in elementary school. Thelma received her associate’s degree from Seminole State College, where she befriended and was mentored by Kelly Kirk, of whom she adored and cherished as a friend. Thelma even painted a portrait of Melvin Moran that currently hangs in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Her artwork can also be found in Tanner Hall and Seminole State College, where portraits of previous college presidents she painted are currently displayed for students to admire.

Thelma worked for a few places throughout her life. She worked at Pleasant Grove School as a cook, where she met her best friend for life, Kathy Womack. She also worked as a bus driver for Gordon Cooper Vo-Tech and has always remembered her bus riders with fondness. Thelma’s last job was as a correspondence secretary for Melvin Moran at Moran Oil Enterprises. She included Melvin as a saint among men and cherished her friendship with him, and his wife Jasmine.

Thelma is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Bob Arnold, and her sisters, Jackie McKinney-Adams and Sally Quillin.

Thelma is survived by her daughters, Terri Robertson and Heather Dillon, her grandchildren Jacqi Dill, Lynly Arnold, Jeffrey Bush and Brandon Dillon, her great grandchildren Sevyn Bush and Nova Dillon, her sister Tennie English and brother, Thomas “Poke” Foutch and brother-in-law Carlos Quillin, and a host of nieces and nephews.

As a grandparent Thelma truly shined. She often took her grandchildren, either one at a time or all together, to the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum. Thelma did not want a funeral service so her family asks that if you want to contribute to her memory, to please send a donation to:

Jasmine Moran Children’s museum

P.O. Box 1828

Seminole, OK 74818