Arnold Woolverton

WOOLVERTON Arnold Richardson Woolverton, a quiet woman of cultured dignity, whose first and constant thoughts were the feelings of others, died following a long illness in her Ponte Vedra Beach home Thursday, March 17th, 2016. Always gracious of manner, she never revealed a lifetime of tremendous responsibilities. Her intelligence, cheerfulness and stoicism attracted countless devoted friends. Her family loved her for her patience, integrity and always available wisdom and affection. She was truly a unique and independent lady. Arnold was born in Jacksonville, FL on December 12th, 1931 to the late Dr. Shaler Arnold Richardson and Helen Hare Richardson. Her mother passed away before her third birthday and she was raised by her father. Together Arnold and her father traveled extensively in the Caribbean, Central America and the Western United States. In 1936, at the urging of her father's close friend James R. Stockton Sr., the family purchased one of the first three beach front homes in Ponte Vedra Beach. This home is where Arnold spent her childhood summers, enthusiastically exploring the many dunes and woods surrounding the area. She attended the Bartram School for Girls and was in the first graduating class. Prior to receiving her degree from Jacksonville University, she attended Vassar, Vanderbilt, and Bryn Mahr. After graduating, Arnold taught at Ponte Vedra/Palm Valley Elementary School. Later in her career she was named Director of Training for SCM/Glidco Chemicals. A dedicated educator and a fierce advocate for teaching/learning, she volunteered her time, for over 20 years, tutoring English for the Learn to Read Program. Never ending her quest for knowledge, she studied abroad including a summer of Shakespeare at Cambridge University in England. She also trained with Julia Childs' Instructor, Simone Beck, at his kitchen in France. As her father raised her, likewise, she was determined to do whatever it took to ensure her family experienced the real world; whether it was trailering her daughter's Morgan horses to Colorado or whitewater rafting down the Colorado River with her sons. In addition, to her passion for traveling abroad, Arnold was also devoted to her many canine campions and provided a loving home to many rescued animals. She is preceded in death by her daughter Leigh Woolverton, her sister Helen Broward Music and a brother Montcalm Broward III. Arnold is survived by her sons, Mark Shaler Woolverton and Derick Richardson Woolveton, her grandson Joshua Leigh Woolverton, her brother Shaler Arnold Richardson, Jr. and great-grandson Noah Lee Woolverton. Graveside services are pending at H. Warren Cemetery, Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Services under the care and direction of Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home...

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