Arlene Tinsley

Arlene Mae Tinsley, 81 years of age, passed away May 31, 2015 in the early morning at Community Hospice McGraw Center in Jacksonville, Florida. Arlene fought breast cancer since 1985 until recently in 2014 when the cancer attacked her again and after chemotherapy it spread to her liver causing her death.

Arlene was born to Lester and Helen Liter at Pella, Iowa on December 21, 1933. She had a happy childhood in Pella and especially liked tulip time and the tulip festival in the spring. She liked to swim and spent her summer days at the Pella swimming pool. She was very proud of her Dutch ancestry. At the age of 11, she moved to Afton, Iowa and attended Afton schools and graduated from Afton High School in 1951. She became interested in sports at Afton High and was a four year starter on the Afton basketball team as well as playing on the softball team.

After graduating from Afton she attended and graduated from a business school in Omaha, Nebraska to become a secretary and operate business machines. She then accepted a secretarial position with a company in Des Moines, Iowa and worked there for three years.

Sixty years ago in 1955, Arlene married Ronald Tinsley who was also originally from Iowa, but was living in Chicago, Illinois. Arlene moved to Chicago and began the life of raising a family and becoming a homemaker.

Over the following years Arlene and Ronald had four sons. They were Curtis Randall, Scott Evan (deceased after birth), Scott Arnold and Todd Alexander. Until recently all three of the surviving sons lived in the Jacksonville, Florida area. Todd and his family recently moved to Concord, North Carolina. These three sons produced a total of nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. Curtis Randall (Shannon and Emily), Scott Arnold (William and Ryan), Todd Alexander (Taylor Alexander, Katrina, Alyssa, Helen and Pearl). Since all three sons were involved in club and high school sports, Arlene and Ronald spent most of their leisure time either at sports events or practices. Arlene liked to play the piano and enjoyed music of all types. Both Curt and Scott were able to play several instruments because of Arlene’s interest in music. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed by all.

The family will have a visitation Wednesday, June 3rd from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The memorial service will be held Thursday, June 4th at 11:00 a.m. at Ponte Vedra United Methodist Church at 76 S. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida with Pastor Jeff Bennett presiding. Burial will follow in H. Warren Smith Cemetery, Jacksonville Beach, Florida.