Barbara Jo Fry Arnold, 92

Barbara Jo Fry Arnold, cherished mother, grandmother and sister, passed away November 1st, 2026 at the age of 92. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 3, 2026, at Heartland Funeral Home in Early, Texas. Immediately following, a graveside service will be held at Cedar Point Cemetery. A reception will follow, where family and friends are invited to gather, share memories, and celebrate Barbara’s life.

She was born October 19, 1934, at the home of her grandparents, Lenna and James Horace Fry in Brownwood, Texas. Barbara was a graduate of Brownwood schools and attended North Texas University. Later she moved to Galveston and enjoyed belonging to the Galveston Junior League and helping Galveston restore historic sites and older homes. In 1966, she and her daughters moved to Brownwood where her girls also completed their lower education at BISD. Barbara was employed as Assistant Cashier at Citizens National Bank at Brownwood for 10 years. During this time, she enjoyed riding horses and hunting at the family ranch.

In 1976, she moved to Houston, Texas where she was a Supervisory Examiner for the State of Texas Credit Union Department and later, she was transferred to Austin where she specialized in working with credit unions needing assistance.

In 1980, Barbara was employed as president of West Texas Educators Credit Union in Odessa, Texas, and remained in that position for 17 years. On July 29, 1988, she was appointed as a member of the State of Texas Credit Union Commission by William F. Clements, Governor of Texas. In 1992, Ann Richards was elected Governor and reappointed Mrs. Arnold to the Commission whereby she was elected Chairman. In 1997, she retired from the credit union industry and moved to Lake Granbury. She later relocated to Dallas, where she lived for 16 years, moved to Houston in 2020, and back to Brownwood in 2024.

She is survived by her three daughters and their spouses: Andrea Arnold and Patrick Stinson, Geanna Arnold and Sam Cutbirth, and Cynthia Arnold Krist, along with their families, which include one grandson, Zachary May of Brownwood and five granddaughters: Courtney Cutbirth McClymond of Breckenridge, Kelly Cutbirth Handlin of Fort Worth, Marlee Curbirth DeAyala of Austin, Kyndall Krist Wilson of Houston and Kennedy Krist of Dallas, and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Bobby L. Fry and his wife, Brenda of Fort Worth/Brownwood, as well as two nieces: Leslie Fry Lalonde of Edmond, OK and Taylor Fry Sohr of Aledo. She is preceded in death by her parents, Estelle Egger and James Walter Fry.

Barbara was a selfless, devoted, and thoughtful woman who always seemed to put others before herself. She was a woman of deep faith, and her involvement in the Episcopal Church was an important and meaningful part of her life. Her faith guided her actions and was reflected in the kindness, compassion, and generosity she showed to others. She was deeply loved by her family and cherished by her many friends. Barbara had a special way of making people feel cared for and appreciated. She will be remembered not only for the things she did for others, but for the love, friendship, and warmth she brought into their lives. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Online condolences, memories and tributes can be made to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net

Barbara Jo Fry Arnold, 92

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