James Albert Arnold, age 90, of Enosburg Falls, Vermont, died Saturday March 2, 2013 at Brownway Residence. Born August 20, 1922 in Exeter, Devon, England the son of Bessie Saran Arnold nee Saunders and Frederick William Arnold.

After High School, James attended the Royal Naval Dockyard College at Plymouth and in 1942 he graduated with Studies of Naval Architecture, Ship Design and Ship Building. At the same time he attended school to become a Shipwright he fought fires during the Blitz at the Plymouth dockyards. Upon assignment to sea duty, during the Second World War, he proudly served during the North African, Sicilian Landings, Mediterranean, North Atlantic and Pacific (Japanese Theater) campaigns aboard the cruiser HMS Newfoundland. It was during this time he received many service medals and promotion to commissioned officer. James was fiercely proud of his WW II military service to his native country of England and his Naval accomplishments. While his ship was undergoing severe damage repair at the Boston Navy Yard, James met his beautiful loving first wife, Dorothy Louise Griffin.

After the war, James and Dorothy made their home in America where their three children were born. James obtained his American Citizenship in 1951. He became a real estate broker in Woburn and Reading, Massachusetts, establishing his own company, Arnold MacDonald Inc., and resided there until the death of Dorothy in 1974.

In 1957 James became a member of the Masonic Mount Horeb Lodge in Woburn, Massachusetts. His active life allowed James to participate in Masonic Lodges in Laconia, New Hampshire, Sarasota, Florida, (where he earned his Thirty-second degree Mason), Alburg, Vermont, and Dartmouth, England. James was also a Shriner of the Sahib Shrine Temple in Sarasota, Florida. He was presented a “Certificate of Fifty Years Service” in February 2008.

After his retirement from real estate in 1977, he went back to Exeter, England where he was employed by the Exeter Maritime Museum as a Foreman Shipwright overseeing the restoration of the Bristol Pilot Cutter. In 1991, the British Royal Navy Office employed James as the Harbormaster of Dartmouth Harbor, England.

Not only was James a talented Shipwright and real estate broker, but he was also a talented musician. While in the British Royal Navy, he taught himself to play the harmonica and played it skillfully his entire life. Often he would entertain his family and friends with familiar songs from his era while sharing his love of music. “Song of India” was one of his favorite pieces. And, he could sing beautifully as well.

At age 72, James met his second wife, Elaine Hazen Rogow while in Sarasota, Florida where they lived before moving to St. Albans, Vermont. Elaine’s son Richard Rogow and his wife Pipi along with their children lovingly welcomed James into their hearts and lives. During this period, James and Elaine lived in Franklin Carriage House and then later resided with Dick and Pipi where they were nurtured and cared for with the utmost attention and love. Their final move was to Brownway Residence in Enosburg Falls, Vermont.

After sixteen years of marriage his beloved second wife, Elaine Hazen Rogow Arnold preceded James in death on March 17, 2011. James is survived by his children: James Stephen Arnold and his wife Joanna Masi of Stuart, Florida, Sharyn Bell and her husband Rolland Bell of Sarasota, Florida, Karen Clairmont of New Hampshire; and three grandchildren: Joanne Arnold of Selden, New York, and Stephen Arnold of Waterford, Connecticut, and Matthew Clairmont of New Hampshire; and numerous great-grandchildren; stepson Richard Rogow and wife Priscilla of Richford, Vermont and their family.


Memorial service for James Arnold will be held in June.