Les Arnold Obituary

Les Arnold, resident of Durango since 2016, passed peacefully surrounded by family in early January at Mercy Hospital. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Walter and Lahoma Arnold. He graduated from Arizona State University in 1964 with a B.S.E. in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he was commissioned Ensign in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps. Les served tours of duty in Texas and Hawaii and left the Navy as a Lieutenant in 1969.

After spending 6 years in private industry, Les joined the Army Corps of Engineers at the Albuquerque District in 1975. His tours with the Corps included 4 years in Saudi Arabia and 2 1?2 years at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Les was the underground resident engineer for construction at WIPP. Les earned an MBA at the University of New Mexico. He retired from the Corps of Engineers in 1997 and concentrated on his thoroughbred breeding and racing business in Los Lunas, New Mexico until 2016. In 2016 Les and Barbara moved to Durango, Colorado to be near Barbara's son and family to enjoy the four corners lifestyle of skiing, hiking, and fishing. In Durango he joined the Durango Bridge Club and enjoyed playing duplicate bridge several times a week. In addition to his horse interests, Les was active in hunting, fishing, and senior tennis. He was also a huge fan of opera and Pavarotti. Les leaves behind his wife Barbara, a great travel companion; son Martin (Ann, William and Joseph), and daughter Denise Brunacini (Richard) and stepson Justin Bogan (Ingrid Alt and Makayla). Also surviving him are nephew Dean Hall (Sherry) and niece Darcy Simmons (Ken and Austin). In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to Habitat for Humanity in Les' name. Interment of Les' cremains will be at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on April 24, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.