Mrs. Barbara Jean Heath Arnold, age 69, a resident of Hope Mills, NC, died Monday, August 22, 2016 at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 5:30pm in the Chapel of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington. The family will receive friends following the service.

Mrs. Arnold was born in Pitt County on April 15, 1947 to the late Wilbur Lee Heath and Margaret Brann Heath. On May 15, 2011 she married James Lewis Arnold. Mrs. Arnold enjoyed gardening and cooking. She was an independent woman and a very hard worker. Above all else she loved children and spending time with her own children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband James L. Arnold, three children, Donald Foskey and wife Lillie of Greenville, Katherine Alvarez and husband Thomas of Greenville, Jennifer Dixon and husband Del of Vanceboro, three step-children, James L. Arnold Jr. of Hope Mills, Marian E. Carter of Hope County, Hyman E. Arnold of Hope Mills, twenty-nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, a brother, Albert Lee Heath and wife Angela of Simpson, three sisters, Peggy Lorenzetti of Greenville, Marie Mayo of Greenville, Del Johnston and husband Ted of Winterville, and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and three brothers, Johnny Curt Heath, James Ray Heath and Edward Earl Heath.

The family will receive friends at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington following the service from 6:00pm until 8:00pm.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital by visiting www.firsthealth.org/foundation-of-firsthealth/caring-for-people.

Condolences may be addressed to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Arnold family.