Terry Arney Arthur, of Blacksburg, was born April 18, 1953, to Robert and Ruby Arney, who predeceased her along with her older brother Bobby. She moved to her eternal home on April 8, 2020. By her side were her husband and children, whom she loved dearly.
Terry leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 45 years, Sean, her sons Jon and Rob, her daughter Emily and her grandchild Jackson. A loving memory is also shared by her brother Doug, her sister Betty, and many nieces and nephews on both the Arney and Arthur sides of the family.
Her lifelong priorities were to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, her family, and her friends. Her Christian actions, displayed through her worship, her commitment to her church, and her sharing of her beliefs were a testament to her love for the Lord and all others. Terry was a faithful member of Blacksburg Christian Church where she taught Sunday school, served as board chair and presided over numerous church committees.
Terry was a devoted wife to her husband and was a loving mother to her three children. She perceptively nurtured her husband’s Christian beliefs and his understanding of what love was really about. She reared her children in a warm, caring and affectionate atmosphere. When it came to her family, harsh words were not in her vocabulary, only words of encouragement and love and a steadfast guidance that reflected her morals and beliefs. She was the model wife and mother.
Terry played the piano and the organ at Blacksburg Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for more than 35 years. Her interest in music was evident as a pre-teen when she began playing the piano at her hometown church in Morganton, N.C. She studied music and history at UNC-Greensboro where she received her BA in History.
Terry and Sean were married on January 4, 1975. In 1979 they moved to West Lafayette, Ind., where she taught at Indiana Vocational Tech. While in Indiana, she received her Master’s degree in guidance and personnel from Purdue University. In 1983 she and her family (Sean, Jon and Emily) moved to Blacksburg. Rob was born three years later.
During the early years in Blacksburg, Terry was a stay-at-home mother who relished her chance to guide and nurture her children during their most formative years and to be involved in their daily activities. Her prominent involvement with the rearing of the children provided her husband, Sean, with the necessary flexibility to navigate the pre- and post-tenure structure at Virginia Tech.
Terry remained a stay-at-home mom until Rob started the first grade at Margret Beeks Elementary School. Even then, she wanted to remain somewhat active in her children’s lives and took a job as a Writing-to-Read aide at Margret Beeks where her two youngest children, Rob and Emily, were still attending. Only when all of the children were in middle/high School did Terry begin to pursue her own professional development.
Utilizing her master’s degree, she accepted a job as an academic advisor in the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech. She treated the students with the same endearing attitude she afforded her husband and children. She remained on the job for 17 years when she retired. During her time in Blacksburg, Terry was an active member and ardent supporter of the P.E.O Organization and the Virginia Tech Women’s Club.
Terry lived by the passage “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There will be a private family graveside service. Memorials in Terry’s name can be made to the Blacksburg Christian Church.