"I came to Concord with a broken down car and no job but I did have Friendly Ice Cream experience and Bob hired me as he said "You had good training at Friendlys" On my last shift after 3 years, I met my future wife Carol Quimby and worked with her for only an hour. So we are one of the couples who, 33 years later, can see how important to so many people the " Weeks experience" was. So happy to know this family over the years and our heartfelt condolences to all of you."
In loving memory of
Robert Barnes Arnold
January 25, 1929 - July 10, 2016
Robert B. Arnold, a self-made man and past Potentate for the NH Shrine, passed away peacefully at the Douglas Jacobson Veterans Home in Port Charlotte, Florida at 87 years young.
Bob was born in Springfield, MA on January 25, 1929 to Donald and Calma Arnold. In 1945 at 17, he dropped out of school and with his parent’s approval joined the US Navy. He served on the USS Massey, a destroyer escort and his tour took him to war torn Italy and the Mediterranean. They also crossed the equator to South America on another tour. Bob enjoyed USS Massey reunions later in his retirement years with other Navy men who also served tours on this ship.
He worked in the first Friendly Ice Cream shop on Boston Road in Springfield MA for the Blake brothers before going into the Navy. After the service, he worked as a machinist and also as a delivery milkman. In those days, milk and other dairy products were delivered fresh to your home. In 1949, Bob married his sweetheart, Ruth Baer, daughter of Fritzie and Louise Baer. Fritzie was working for the Indian Motorcycle Company. With Bob’s mustering out money from the Navy, Fritzie sold Dad an Indian and when Bob and Ruth were married, they both had motorcycles.
Bob and Ruth were sweethearts in school. July 16th 2016 would have been their 67th wedding anniversary though Bob often mentioned that 6 years should be added on as they had met when they were 14.
He went into the management program at Friendly’s Ice Cream and in 1957 was given his own location in Worcester Ma as a manager. This was Friendly’s 35th location. His store was honored in 1956 for serving the 50 Millionth ice cream cone. Both Ruth and Bob were very strong on family values and Bob had dinner with his family almost every night though often had to leave after dinner to go back to work at the restaurant. Friendly’s would always have an ice cream sale on Christmas, though the store was technically closed for the day, and Bob would have to go back to the restaurant for the sale after we opened our Christmas presents.
In 1964, Bob and Ruth purchased the Weeks Family Restaurant in the Capitol Shopping Center in Concord where Sal’s Pizza is located today. In 1968, they opened a second location at one of New Hampshire’s first malls in Bedford. 1978 saw a third location in the Fort Eddy Shopping Plaza in Concord. A fourth location was opened in 1981 in Contoocook, NH. In 1984, they purchased the Red Blazer Restaurant in Concord.
Weeks Family Restaurants hired many young people and for many of them, this was their first job. Bob nurtured these young people and was excited to learn of how successful many became later in life. One year alone, Bob issued almost 500 w-2s. Many families had numerous siblings, all working their way through high school and college at Weeks. Many met their future husbands and wives while working together at Weeks.
Bob was extremely proud that all three of his sons were in the restaurant business with him. As a lifelong Mason, he was also very proud when all three sons were ‘raised’ simultaneously as Masons with the Blazing Star Lodge in Concord. Bob was presented with his 60-year member award by the Blazing Star Masonic Lodge a few years ago.
Bob was an active Shriner and a member of their drum and bugle corp, marching in parades throughout the US. The Shrine football game was always one of their premier events with the parade through Hanover, NH. Bob was on the Bektash Temple Shrine Divan. In 1991, he became one of 50 Potentates in the United States where he represented all the Shriners in New Hampshire. All three of his sons served as his aides during his year as Potentate.
A lifelong golfer, Bob was a member of Concord Country Club where he had a hole in one on the 144 yard 16th in July 1986. He was also an avid skier and took numerous trips to the Alps in Switzerland, Austria and Italy. Bob was also a sports car enthusiast and past president of the NH Sports Car Club where he raced both a Sunbeam Tiger and Lotus Elan.
He leaves behind his life-long sweetheart and wife of 67 years, Ruth Baer Arnold. His sons, Bobby and his wife Heidi, Tom and his wife Tootie, Peter and fiancée Kim Yarlott and a former daughter-in-law, Karen Arnold. Grandchildren, Ben Rice and his wife Christine, Jeremy Rice and wife Sarah Tye, Molly and husband BJ Lanigan, Annie Arnold, Katie and husband Tyler Lipp, Chris Arnold, Brittany and husband Gregory Frank. Great grandchildren Brady and Vanessa Rice, Deegan and Norah Lanigan and many beloved nieces and nephews. Bob also leaves behind two sisters, Betty Daly of Laconia, NH and Phyllis Crowley of Belmont, NH and three brothers-in-law, Thomas Baer of Manchester, NH, Butch Baer of Monson, MA and James Baer of Concord, NH. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Donald Arnold and sister Dorothy Davis.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be held on August 28 at 2:00PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Concord, NH. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: Shriners Hospitals for Children at www. support.shrinershospitals.org; to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at www.alzfdn.org or to Tidewell Hospice at tidewellhospice.org
Tributes
"Ruth and Bob have been a big part of my life and my fathers life for a long time. Bobs sense of humor was second to none and his adoration to Ruth was obvious. Our condolences to the entire Arnold family from Me and Chris."
"Reading Bob's obituary brought back so many wonderful memories of working at Weeks through my college years and then again, after having two of my children. Bob was always such a great man and treated us all as if we were his own children! I think I could still make a Mount Washington if given the task! I marvel at the long and wonderful life and marriage he had with Ruth, and how much he gave to others. My deepest sympathy to your family at the loss of such a kind and wonderful man. He touched a lot of lives and I'm sure you are all very proud of who he was. "
"So sorry to hear of Bob's passing. I am proud to be one of those kids who worked at Weeks through high school and college. I remember playing Frisbee and swimming at his home on South Street. Ruth and Bob always treated me like part of the family. Ruth, Bob, Pete and Tom I am truly sorry for your loss. Your dad was a good man."
" So sorry for your loss. I have many fond memories of my days working at Weeks with all of the Arnold family."
"Bobs family,So sorry to hear of Bobs passing. He was a very nice man. He was good to me. I worked for him over ten yrs. He is probably scooping ice cream in heaven"
"Fond memories of "Pops" from when I waitressed many years ago at Weeks. He was a true gentleman and a class act. My condolences to the family. "
"And oh those typing errors in that earlier post!! The phone keyboard leaves a lot to be desired! So sorry!"
"Your dad was a wonderful man, Tom. While I never wirked fir Bob, I worjed with him when I was part of the Weeks management team. He was indeed a mentor and friend to many of Concord's teens as they undertook their first steps into adulthood. Your dad built a lasting legacy through theur lives. My thoughts go out to you, Tootie and the family."