LeRoy "Arden" Daugherty

March 21, 1940 ~ September 21, 2022 (age 82)

LeRoy Arden Daugherty was born on March 21, 1940 to the late Buryl and Irma (Auer) Daugherty, and lived in South Bend all his life.  He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on September 21, 2022.

Arden graduated from Riley High School in 1958 where he made life-long friends and met his wife, Carol (Abbott) Daugherty.  They were married in October of 1960, and would have celebrated their 62nd anniversary next month.  (Amazing!) 

He received his BA from Ball State Teacher’s College and obtained his Masters of Education from Indiana University, Bloomington.  Arden taught in the South Bend School System at Harrison, Dickinson, Brown, and Clay H.S., but found the best job of all at Warren School.  He truly enjoyed teaching at Warren where the staff became like a family.  He taught PE and coached baseball, wrestling and football teams to numerous Championships. Both of his daughters and a future son-in-law were there while he was teaching, so there have been some real stories about that time.

In 1978, he and Carol bought a lake cottage on Clear Lake in Three Rivers, MI and their combined families and pets have been spending summers there ever since.  The time spent with his family was the best.  On Christmas Eve, our daughters and their husbands, grandkids, and then even the great grandkids spent the night at our house.  The movie ritual was “Christmas Vacation”.  He looked forward to that night every year and was never happier.  After Arden retired in 1997, he became a serious collector of pre and post-war Lionel trains. He especially enjoyed repairing and restoring them.  Arden and EBay became very close.

Surviving are his wife Carol, daughters Shawn (John) Day and Erin (Bob) Dombrowski. Also his grandchildren who referred to him as “Bonka”, Cory (Vincent) Thomas, Derek (Rachel) Day and Patrick (Caitlin) Day.  Great-grandchildren Kendall, Jace, Kobe, Ostin, Ryan and Murphy.  He was predeceased by his sister Mary Blevins and Virginia Hamilton.

Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation.  A graveside memorial will be held at a later date.  Palmer Funeral Home is assisting the family with Arrangements.  Memorial contributions made to the Mishawaka Center for Hospice, 301 North Cedar Street, Mishawaka, IN  46544 and Heartland Small Animal Rescue, PO Box 6033, South Bend, IN  46660

Arden was known to be gruff and grumpy, but those that knew him dished it right back, and he loved it.  He will be greatly missed by all of us.  A friend sent this –“Goodbyes are not forever, goodbyes are not the end.  They simply mean I’ll miss you, until we meet again”.  Godspeed Arden.  In Arden’s words, Tootles!

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com

09.25.2022 djb

https://www.palmerfuneralhomes.com/obituary/LeRoyArden-Daugherty