In Memory

Isabel Price (Arnett) - Class Of 1943

Isabel Price (Arnett)

Isabel Price Arnett, loving wife of Warren Jefferson "Jeff" Arnett, passed away peacefully in her Pasadena home January 27, 2009. Born on June 22, 1925 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she moved with her family to South Pasadena in 1940, graduating from South Pasadena High School with her future husband in 1943. Isabel attended Pomona College, later transferring to and graduating from UCLA, where she met life-long friends with whom she remained close throughout her life.

Isabel and Jeff married in 1947 and started their family in Pasadena, which eventually grew to include their four children, Jay, Leslie, Susie, and Christy. A devoted wife, mother, and community volunteer, Isabel used her leadership skills to the benefit of such organizations as the Junior League of Pasadena, and the Pasadena Guild of Childrens Hospital and Luminaires of the Doheny Eye Institute, where she served as president of both. As a 12 year member of the board of directors of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Isabel not only worked tirelessly for the benefit of critically ill and injured children and their families, but also for the employees, helping to establish the Child Development Center which today provides around the clock child-care for CHLA employees. As an early and long-time art docent at the Huntington Library and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Isabel made art come alive for the young children she toured. Even while faithfully serving her community, Isabel skillfully juggled the many demands of an active family. Spending countless hours in the car, chauffeuring her children from Little League, to ice skating lessons, piano lessons and more, Isabel made it all seem effortless, managing to arrive home in plenty of time to prepare and serve home-cooked meals eaten nightly around the dining room table with everyone present.

The importance of family was a top priority for Isabel. Family gatherings and vacations were a source of great delight, and until a year ago when her illness prevented further travel, the family would gather yearly at La Grulla for catalogue browsing, relaxation, and high-spirited and competitive, but friendly, board and card games. When the children were younger, Jeff planned and piloted numerous flying trips throughout the southwest and Baja in which Isabel acted as the family coordinator. Despite several turbulent hours, her unflappable spirit brought the necessary calm to the clan of six that filled the cabin of a Cessna to capacity.

Isabel is predeceased by her parents, Helen Bishoff Price and George Thomas Price, Jr. She is survived by her husband, Warren Jefferson Arnett, and children Warren "Jay" Arnett, Jr. (Carol), Leslie Nafie (Robert), Susan Hyde, and Christine Marquez (Victor). She is also survived by her adoring grandchildren, Jefferson Eric Jallo (Diana), Sarah Olivia Jallo, Warren J. Arnett III, Price Cleator Arnett, Trevor Patterson Hyde, and Lindsey Christine Hyde, and a large extended family. In addition to her husband and children, Isabel is survived by her brother, George Thomas Price III (Lee) of Henderson, Nevada, and his family, and brother-in-law, Mahlon E. Arnett, Jr. (Roberta) of Hutto, Texas and family.