Nason Arnold Arrington

Nason Arnold Arrington, 76, of Farmville, died Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, at the Virginia Commonwealth Medical Center in Richmond after a six-month battle with cancer.He was born on a small farm in Charlotte County on Oct. 16, 1932, as the eldest of Carson and Mabel Arringtons six children.After graduating from Randolph Henry High School in 1951 as a hard-nosed football player and president of the Future Farmers of America chapter, he bypassed the opportunity to continue his education at Virginia Tech in order to serve his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War. A monument in Keysville honoring Korean War veterans bears his name.Upon returning home from service in 1956, Mr. Arrington would soon pick up the trade of floor work, which he would practice actively for more than 50 years. He was known throughout the area for the quality work he produced, and the care he put into the smallest detail. He worked many years at the Floor Shop in Farmville, before managing Nelsons Carpet and Tile in Keysville. At the time of his death, he was employed at The Carpet House in Farmville.On June 25, 1960, he married Norma Jean Craddock, and would remain a caring and loving husband for more than 48 years. They had two children; Cynthia Kay, born Nov. 8, 1965, and Randal Arnold, born March 15, 1972.Mr. Arrington moved to Farmville in the late 1950s, where he soon became a volunteer firefighter. He gave nearly 50 years of service to the Farmville Volunteer Fire Department, serving many of those years as the groups chaplain.Mr. Arrington was also known for his work with area youth, coaching youth baseball, softball and football teams for several years.He was also an avid hunter, angler and outdoorsmen. He appreciated the outdoors and enjoyed time spent there.Surviving him, in addition to his wife and two children, are two brothers, Walter and Ronald Arrington, both of Charlotte County; three sisters, Audrey Rutledge of Chase City, Peggy Matthews of West Branch, Mich., and Barbara Cawthorne of Hilton Head, S.C.; his son-in-law, Lynn Duffey and one grandchild, Christopher Thomas Duffey, a freshman at Virginia Tech who his granddad was most proud of; and a very faithful golden Labrador retriever named Jake.He was preceded in death by his parents, Carson and Mabel, who he loved dearly.The family will receive friends at the Puckett Funeral Home in Farmville from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19. A service will be held at the funeral home at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20 with interment to follow in Trinity Memorial Gardens.Memorial contributions may be made to the Farmville Volunteer Fire Department or to the American Cancer Society. Puckett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.