Edna Jane Arnold, 90, of South Whitley, passed away at 7:14 p.m. Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Saint Anne Home & Retirement Community, Fort Wayne.

Born on January 5, 1936, in Lafayette, Indiana, she was a daughter of the late Edward A. and Florence (Burkhead) Schwartz. She completed her elementary education at Battleground School in Lafayette before the family moved to Allen County, where she attended Lafayette Central High School. She graduated from South Whitley High School in 1953.

On October 21, 1956, she married Eddie Wayne Arnold. They made their home in South Whitley, raising three children. Eddie died on December 1, 2020, after 64 years of marriage.

In addition to being a homemaker raising the couple’s children, Edna was a telephone operator in South Whitley for 5 years. She then worked for Drudge Screw Products in both the Pierceton and Warsaw locations.

She was fond of her dachshund dogs and had five of them throughout her life. She was an avid antique doll collector and belonged to the Fort Wayne Doll Club. She also enjoyed collecting other antiques that caught her fancy.

She was a member of the former Church of the Brethren in South Whitley and made home visits to area shut-ins and widows. In recent times, she liked to sit on her porch, soaking up the sunshine, visiting with neighbors and watching the people who would pass by her home.

She is survived by her children, Cari (Matthew) Kyle and Aaron (Amy Saleh) Arnold, both of Fort Wayne, and a brother, Robert (Beverly) Schwartz of West Lafayette.

She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Kimberly Dimmick, and brothers who were both tragically killed in an automobile accident, Edward and John Schwartz.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday (Oct 24th) at the South Whitley Cemetery, 7500 W State Road 14, South Whitley. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Son’s Miller Chapel in South Whitley.

Memorials in Edna’s honor may be made to the Humane Society of Whitley County.