ARNOLD R. KAYS
Arnold R. Kays, 95, of Connersville, passed away on Friday, November 13, 2020, at Reid Health in Richmond. He was born December 6, 1924 in Covington, Ohio, the only child of the late Vallis P. and Ruth Nell Rothrock Kays.
He was married on February 24, 1945, to Nellie Kathryn Gray in Waynesburg, Penn., They were able to share almost 67 years together before she passed on February 16, 2012. They were blessed with three children: Sharon Ann (Robert) Broughton, of Carlsbad, CA, William Vallis (Joyce) Kays, of Connersville, and Ruth Jean Zeis, of Connersville. They were also blessed with eight grandchildren, Jon Connan, of Savannah, Ga., Amanda Connan, of Atlanta, Ga, Catherine (Bryan) Smith, and Allison Broughton, both of Carlsbad, Calif., Brian Kays and Kim (Tony) Corsaro, both of Connersville, Zachary (Amy) Zeis, of Indianapolis, and Emily (Zack) Archuletta, of Anchorage, Ak.; and seven great-grandchildren, A.J., Gabe, and Brady Corsaro, Alex Miller, Mason Zeis, Theodore Zeis, and Noelle Smith.
He graduated from Clay City High School in Clay City, in 1942. He then went on to graduate from Rose Polytechnic Institute (now Rose Hulman Institute of Technology) in Terre Haute, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, in December of 1944.
Bob was employed by Seeger Refrigerator Co. in Evansville, from 1945 to 1951, as an engineer doing mechanical and electrical design and testing on refrigerators. In 1951, he moved to Connersville to work at American Kitchens Div. of Avco as an engineer in the design and development of a household dishwasher. When the plant became Design & Mfg. Corp., he continued employment there until the plant was sold to White Consolidated Industries in December 1997. He retired from D&M as Manager of Research & Development and had served on their Board of Directors.
He had also served on Dishwasher and Disposer Engineering Committees for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and later the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, all having to do with the design and standards for performance and safety of Household Dishwashers and Disposers. He also served on the Industry Advisory Committees for Underwriters Laboratories and The Canadian Standards Association for these appliances.
He was a charter member of Connersville Baptist Temple and had served as a Trustee and as a Treasurer. He had also served on the original Building Committee and had been on the Board of Temple Christian School. For more than 20 years, he and Nell had attended Hollywood Boulevard Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., while spending winters in Florida.
Bob enjoyed playing golf and was a member of Connersville Country Club for more than 50 years. He also belonged to Indian Bayou Golf & Country Club in Destin, Florida for many years. He was a member of the Connersville Kiwanis Club, a life member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the Whitewater Valley Chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers. He also enjoyed boating and had been a member of The United States Power Station Squadron for many years and had taken and taught several of their boating courses.
Along with his children and grandchildren, Bob is survived by his wife, Julia, who he married in 2013, and two stepchildren, George Hamilton, of Connersville, and Janet (Chuck) Walke, of Mishawaka. Visitation for Bob will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2020, from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., at Connersville Baptist Temple. The funeral service will begin at 12 p.m., at the church, with Pastor Joe Ferreira officiating. Burial will follow in Dale Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Connersville Baptist Temple. Urban Winkler Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. The family understands that you may not feel comfortable attending in person and would like to encourage you to sign the guestbook or leave them a personal message on www.urbanwinklerfuneralhome.com