Esta Inez (Friar) Arnold

Esta Inez Friar Arnold, of Halls Crossroads, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at age 99. Born on December 10, 1925, to Samuel Thomas Friar and Loda Mae Seals Friar, Esta grew up in Fonde, Kentucky, a small, then-coal-mining town near the Tennessee-Kentucky border. She was the ninth child of eleven, all of whom she survived. She graduated from Pruden High School and attended Knoxville Business College. Esta met Kyle Franklin Arnold while working as a waitress at a diner at Dixie Lee Junction, now-Farragut, Tennessee. After Kyle was restationed to France, Esta flew to begin her married life in Chateauroux, France, in January 1953. After returning to Knoxville, Kyle and Esta built their home in the Halls Crossroads community and lived there the rest of their lives. She was a member of Salem Baptist Church. Esta is preceded in death by her husband, MSgt. Kyle F. Arnold, U.S. Air Force (ret.); daughter, Betty Kay Arnold Easterling; parents, Samuel and Loda Friar; and 10 siblings. She is survived by her sons, Alan F. Arnold (U.S. Army veteran) and Glenn H. Arnold; daughter Connie Belle Arnold Hunter (Steve); son-in-law, David Easterling (U.S. Army (ret.)); grandchildren Christopher Easterling (U.S. Marine Corps veteran), Kyla Howell (Sam), and Ryan Cox (Alexis Raye); great-granddaughter, Beth Noon and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Martha Arnold-Charnay, Milba Cummings, Becky Elrod, and Esta M. Arnold, and step-grandsons Steve and Seth Hunter. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday, April 5, 2025 at Mynatt Funeral Home, Halls Chapel. Family and friends will meet by 1:15 PM Saturday at Salem Baptist Church Cemetery for a 1:30 PM graveside service with Reverend Toby Everett officiating. Online condolences may be sent to www.mynattfh.com