William Arnold Covell

William Arnold “Arnie” Covell, beloved husband, father, grandfather, cousin, uncle and friend died, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006 peacefully at his home in Pensacola, FL, surrounded by family.

Arnie was born in Pensacola Aug. 10, 1929, and grew up in DeFuniak Springs, FL. He graduated from The McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN in 1947 and from Davidson College, Davidson, NC, Phi Beta Kappa in 1951. He completed medical school at Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC in 1955, and served as Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corp until he was honorably discharged in 1958. After completing his residency in radiology at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, he spent a year on staff at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL and a year practicing radiology in Panama City, FL. In 1963 Arnie joined B.D. Rhea, MD and J.J. Baehr, MD in radiology practice in Pensacola at offices on Palafox St. and at Baptist Hospital, where he served a term as chief of staff. He retired in 1994 to enjoy family, Grayton Beach, gardening, building and repairing docks, walkways, and sharing stories with family and friends. Arnie was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, serving as deacon and elder.

Arnie was preceded in death by his parents, A.B. (Pat) and Gladys Mosley Covell; infant daughter, Jan Claire, and sister, Claire Covell Jernigan. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Bonnie Blue Covell; four children, son, William Reid (Bill) and wife, Peggy, of Bartlesville, OK, daughter, Jean Covell Silva and husband, Joe, of Panama City, son, James Patrick (Jim) and wife, Michelle, of Gulf Breeze, son, Scott McNeill, of Grayton Beach, FL; seven grandchildren, Joey, Katherine, Sam, Tristan, Bailey, Sarah, and John; cousin, Ann Stinson Robinson, of DeFuniak Springs and her two children, and six nieces and nephews.

Memorial service was held Monday, Sept. 25, 2006 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, in Pensacola, with Dr. Hugh Hamilton and Mr. Frank Beall officiating.

Honorary pallbearers were Bill Calvert, Milton Rogers, Bill Landsgaard, Summers Jarrett, Joe John, Lee Hollimon, Alan McBride, and Boyce White. A reception followed in the church parlor.

A graveside service was held Monday, Sept. 25 at Magnolia Cemetery in DeFuniak Springs. A reception followed at First Presbyterian Church in DeFuniak Springs.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Gulf Coast Kids House, 3401 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32503 or Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3400 Bayou Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32503.


[Source: The DeFuniak Springs Herald, October 5, 2006]

[Burial: Magnolia Cemetery, DeFuniak Springs]