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Robert “Lindy” Arnold was the kind of man you don’t meet every day—yet the kind you hope to meet when it really matters. Born in 1927 in East Peoria, Illinois, he came of age in the gritty aftermath of the Great Depression. He answered his country’s call not once, but twice—first in the Navy during World War II and later in the Army during the Korean War. He was the sort of guy who showed up, no matter the uniform or the task.

For 35 years, Lindy served East Peoria as its City Clerk and Finance Officer. That wasn’t just a job; it was an act of care, a kind of quiet stewardship for a place he clearly loved. But he wasn’t just a numbers guy. Faith wasn’t something Lindy practiced on Sundays alone—it was something he lived. Whether teaching Sunday School, or leading a Bible study, he took every opportunity to share what mattered most to him: his unwavering belief in the good, the true, and the eternal.

He was a family man, but not in a cookie-cutter way. He married Jean Ann Gould in 1959, and though she passed before him, their legacy carried on in three kids, a bevy of grandchildren, and even great-grandkids—living proof of the life he built and loved.

Lindy’s life wasn’t flashy, but it was vital. He lived with purpose, loved without limits, and served with humility. As the world continues to spin, it's comforting to know that guys like him are woven into its fabric, quietly holding it all together

A gallery of my favorite pictures of my Grandma, taken by my Grandpa. Jean Ann Arnold.