Virginia King Arnold

Virginia King Arnold, 89, of Usquepaugh, passed away peacefully March 4, 2010, at the South Kingstown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was the beloved wife of the late Herbert L. Arnold. Born in Stonington, Conn. on August 24, 1920, the daughter of the late Charles Lewis and Alice Pearl (Browning) King. She was the loving mother of H. Richard Arnold and his wife, Debra, of Richmond, Senator V. Susan Sosnowski and her husband, Michael, of South Kingstown; 4 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She was the sister of Alice Davidson, Clifford King and the late Charles L. King, Jr. and the late Eleanor King. Virginia graduated from South Kingstown High School and studied journalism at URI. She and her husband Herbert moved to Richmond in 1948. She worked at Cal-art Flowers in Cranston, and was a part-time reporter and photographer for The Westerly Sun. A writer of local history and a researcher of family geneology, she was a charter member of the Richmond Historical Society and co-authored "Driftways into the Past," a local history of the Town of Richmond. She was a member and organist of the Queens River Baptist Church. A talented seamstress, she owned and operated "Cottage Crafts" where she sold her hand-made English smocked dresses, hand-knit garments, quilts, fine needlework, breads and pastries. She was a member of the Carolina Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and over the years baked hundreds of pies for the Fire Department's famous roast beef suppers. An avid organic gardener and nutritionist, she preserved fruits and vegetables from her backyard. She won numerous awards at the Washington County Fair for her needlework and baked goods. Funeral and burial will be private. Calling hours are respectfully omitted. Memorial donations in memory of Virginia Arnold may be made to the Queens River Baptist Church, P.O. Box 722, West Kingston, RI 02892.