A meaningful estate gift from the late Dr. David Walker Arnold and Barbara Daves Arnold, longtime University of Mississippi supporters, will create lasting opportunities for future engineering students and honor a lifetime of devotion to Ole Miss.
The Arnolds, both proud alumni, directed their estate plans to strengthen scholarship support within the School of Engineering, ensuring that talented students — particularly those facing financial barriers — can pursue degrees that prepare them to lead in science, technology and innovation.
“Having worked with the Arnolds for the past 15 years, I know how much their Ole Miss experiences and education meant to them, and how much they hoped their generosity would benefit future students,” said David Russell, vice president of Argent Trust, who worked closely with the couple.
Jana Bardwell of Yazoo City, Mississippi, at first a student of Barbara Arnold’s, became friends with the couple and later their health care proxy.
“It has been my pleasure helping them in their greatest time of need. They both exemplified their faith, support and willingness to lead, and lived as great examples of tradition and selflessness during their lifetimes,” said Bardwell, the executor of Barbara Arnold’s estate.
“This gift demonstrates how one family’s devotion can transform opportunities for countless others,” she continued. “Their enduring support of the University of Mississippi’s scholarship programs stands as a testament to their faith in education, engineering and the Ole Miss community.”
David and Barbara Arnold met as students in a chemistry laboratory at Ole Miss and married the year they graduated, beginning a lifelong partnership defined by service, education and generosity. Their relationship with the university deepened over decades through leadership roles, volunteer service and sustained philanthropic support.
Dr. Arnold, who passed away in November 2022, graduated from Ole Miss on an NROTC scholarship before serving five years in the U.S. Navy and earning a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Iowa State University. He spent 35 years at Mississippi Chemical Corp., retiring in 2001 as senior vice president for technical services.
His professional achievements were matched by his dedication to Ole Miss. Over the years, he was recognized as an Engineer of Distinction, inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame, honored with the Ole Miss Alumni Association Service Award and named School of Engineering Engineer of Service.
Barbara Arnold, who passed away in May 2025, was equally committed to education and her university. After earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Ole Miss and a degree in medical technology from the University of Tennessee, she devoted more than two decades to teaching physics and chemistry at Yazoo City High School and Manchester Academy. Even after retiring from the classroom, she continued teaching as a volunteer tutor, assisting students ranging from elementary school through college.
Barbara Arnold was widely respected for her impact on students and educators alike. Her honors included Physics Teacher of the Year from the Mississippi Association of Physicists and five STAR Teacher awards, along with induction into the Manchester Academy Hall of Fame.
Throughout their lives, the Arnolds demonstrated a belief that education changes lives. Their most recent estate gift builds upon decades of intentional philanthropy, including scholarships benefiting chemical engineering, the College of Liberal Arts and the Ole Miss Women’s Council Scholarship Program, honoring Barbara Arnold to support students in history, English and chemistry.
“My admiration for Barbara’s dedication to students inspired me to establish that scholarship,” David Arnold once said. “Her personal interest in students and her love for Ole Miss made it a natural fit.”
The Arnolds also created and supported library endowments honoring professors who shaped their academic journeys. Additionally, the couple was among the first to take advantage of a charitable gift annuity through the UM Foundation, which was used to support a faithful household employee.
University leaders say the Arnolds’ generosity will continue to help students.
“This gift is amazing and will greatly benefit so many of our students in engineering for generations,” said Wendell Weakley, president and CEO of the UM Foundation. “The Arnolds were extraordinary supporters of Ole Miss, and their impact will be felt far into the future.”
Anna Langley, vice president of the UM Foundation, echoed that sentiment: “We are honored to celebrate the Arnolds’ legacy and highlight the lasting difference they have made on our campus.”
Those closest to the Arnolds describe their giving as a reflection of deeply held values.
“They exemplified tradition, selflessness and leadership throughout their lives,” Russell said. “This gift reflects not only their generosity, but also their trust in Ole Miss to carry forward their vision.”
Through their estate gift, David and Barbara Arnold leave behind more than financial support. They leave a legacy of opportunity, mentorship and belief in the power of education that will shape the futures of Ole Miss engineering students for years to come.
For information on estate planning or gift strategies that can support Ole Miss while providing significant benefits to the donor or beneficiary, click here or contact Marc Littlecott, advancement director for estate and planned giving, at marcplan@olemiss.edu or 662-915-6625.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation