Patricia Wasmansdorff Arnold

Patricia Wasmansdorff Arnold of Knoxville passed away on Thursday, June 5, 2025, following a decade-long, courageous journey with Alzheimer’s. Patti lived a life of faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord and now is resting in God’s presence. We thank God for how He used Patti’s life to teach His Word to women and children over the years in the Knoxville community and through which He used to bring so many to saving faith in Jesus. Patti was born on December 14, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia. She moved to Knoxville with her parents where she grew up and graduated from Bearden High School. She attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. It was during her time in college that she met her future husband and life-long partner, Grady. Following graduation, Patti moved to Memphis while Grady attended medical school and medical residency training. During this time in Memphis, Patti worked as an English teacher before starting a family with Grady—her daughter Amy, born in 1969, and Stephen, born in 1972. More importantly, it was during this time that God worked a change in her heart through experiences like a Billy Graham Crusade, the sudden and early death of her father, and attending a Bible Study Fellowship class. Patti confessed that she only went to BSF in Memphis because all she wanted was a place to be with adults while her preschool children could be cared for…for free! But, we know how God works, and it was at BSF that Patti heard God’s truth and the answers to all the questions she was asking over the years. Patti shared that submitting to God was a real struggle, but one afternoon in early November 1974 as her children were napping, she knelt by the sofa in their living room and said, “I give up; I am yours,” and from that day forward, she committed to live for God and God alone. Following residency, Patti and Grady moved back to Knoxville. Inspired by her experience in BSF, Patti served as a Teaching Leader for a BSF women’s class in Knoxville where she showed God’s love to the next generations including her children and grandchildren. She was thankful for all the beautiful godly relationships she developed through BSF. Grady and Patti served with Knox Area Rescue Ministries and were founding members of Resurrection Presbyterian Church. While they enjoyed the opportunity to travel to many countries, their special place was Kiawah Island, South Carolina where they made happy memories of time together with each other and with friends and family, especially their five grandchildren. While spending time in the beauty of Kiawah Island, Patti exclaimed many times, “This is as close to heaven on earth as it gets!” But she knew that heaven would be so much better. Patti was preceded in death by her faithful husband of 53 years, Dr. Henry Grady Arnold, Jr., and by her parents Otto Francis Wasmansdorff and Evelyn Carter Kennedy Wasmansdorff. She is survived by her daughter, Amy Arnold Carter (Colby); son, Stephen Grady Arnold (Helen); grandchildren, Grady, Alice, and Pryor Arnold, and William and Christopher Carter; Sister-in-law, Kathy Arnold Jones (Bev Jr.); and nephews, B Jones III (Brooke) and Andy Jones (Jenny). A memorial service will be held at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 3 pm on Tuesday, June 10th with visitation following the service. A private burial with family and close friends will be held on Wednesday, June 11th at Highland Memorial Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements are being provided by Rose Funeral & Cremation - Mann. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Patti’s memory to Knox Area Rescue Ministries at karm.org/donate or Bible Study Fellowship at www.bsfinternational.org/support/memorials-and-honorarium/.

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Patricia Wasmansdorff Arnold

December 14, 1944 - June 5, 2025