Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Arlin Eugene Peeples passed away peacefully on August 23, 2024 at the age of 103. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charney and Oma Peeples; brothers, Medford and Aubrey Peeples, sisters, Ann Huff and Narcelle Cannon. He was married to the late Edith Griggs Peeples for 46 years and the late Maggie Sage Peeples for 16 years.

Arlin was born in Bowling Green, Florida and was a graduate of Lake Wales High School where he played football and participated in the Egypt Temple Shrine All-Star Football Game in Tampa. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Navy during World War II. He completed Advance Naval Training Diesel School and was assigned to the USS LST-4 serving in operations in Europe and Africa. He was later transferred to the USS LST-173 also serving in operations in Europe. At the end of WWII he was discharged from the Navy. While stationed in Portsmouth he married Edith in 1945 and they moved back to Florida where he attended Florida Southern University and served in the Navy Reserves. In 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis he was called back to active duty. Over the years he was stationed in Florida, Mississippi, Virginia, and Illinois. He retired from the Navy in 1976 as Chief Petty Officer. He remained a member of the Fleet Reserve Association for 40 years following his retirement. Arlin would go on to work for VDOT for 10 years.

Arlin volunteered with Suffolk Meals on Wheels, Friends of the Suffolk Library and for more than 25 years with the Mobile Blood Drives at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. At the age of 90, he stopped volunteering with the blood mobile and began volunteering one day a week at the Scott Center Annex Pharmacy in Portsmouth for the next 5 years until he stopped driving at the age of 95. Arlin was a faithful member of Bethlehem Christian Church where he served as a member of the choir and Prime Time Singers. He was a Mason joining the Glenview, IL Lodge in 1968. He would later transfer to the Suffolk, VA lodge in the early 70’s. He was also a member of Bethlehem Ruritan Club. Arlin loved to travel, garden and fish. He took a pendulum clock repair class in Pennsylvania many years ago and loved to tinker and repair clocks. He was a man dedicated to his family, community, church, and country.

He will be missed by his family, son Gene Peeples and his wife Faye; daughter Lynn Byrum and her husband Frank; grandchildren Michele McGuirt, Melissa Kennedy (Cloud), Michael Peeples (Sarah), Heather Wiggins (Scott) and John Mason (Trisha); great-grandchildren Codi McGuirt, River, Ocean and Cirrus Kennedy, Dylan, Lilli and Issy Mason, Jeremy and Keira Wilson, Gavin and Mason Wiggins; sister-in-law Venada Peeples; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Arlin’s life with be held at Bethlehem Christian Church on Saturday, August 31, 2024 11 AM officiated by Pastor Rob Slingluff. Burial with military honors will follow in the church cemetery officiated by Rev. Don Milner and attended by the Patriot Guard. Following the burial a reception will be held for a time of visitation with the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross, Bethlehem Christian Church or a charity of your choice. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home, Downtown Suffolk Chapel is serving the family. Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com