ARWOOD, BARBARA NELL DENNEY - 70, of Athens, went to be with the Lord on August 24, 2012. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was born in Burlington, IA. She was a graduate of the Mississippi University for Women and received her Master's Degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. A daughter of the late Frank and Edith Denney, she was also preceded in death by her brother William Denney. She began teaching at Goodlettsville High School and then at Young High School in Knoxville. Barbara worked for 10 years for the Department of Educational Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She also taught adult education in Knoxville and Madisonville. She and her husband, Vic, moved to McMinn County in 1977 to raise their family on a dairy farm. Over the years, Barbara became very involved in dairy farming and was a member of several dairy associations. She had a passion and love for education which was evident to those who knew her from her time at Hiwassee College in Madisonville. Barbara was an English professor and then the director of Student Support Services. She also was involved in the arts and was one of the founders of the Monroe Area Council for the Arts. Barbara was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church where she sang in the choir, worked on altar guild, and was an active member in the Episcopal Church Women. She was also a member of several book clubs, Friends of the Library, and various bridge clubs. Survivors include her husband of 41 years, Vic Arwood; one daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Timothy McPhail; one son and daughter-in-law, Blane and Jessie Arwood; one sister and brother-in-law, Deborah and Richard Talley; one sister-in-law, Joanne Denney; one sister-in-law and her husband, Pamela Arwood and Gary Autrey; three grandchildren, Harris McPhail, Denney McPhail and Lily Arwood; nieces, Lori Reis, Jill Mason, Taylor Reis, Mikala Denney; nephews, Doug Denney, Dan Denney, Brody Reis, and Joshua Denney; and several cousins and friends whom she loved dearly. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with the Reverend Hendree Harrison officiating. Interment will follow at St. Paul's. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Smith Funeral & Cremation Services of Athens. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 326, Athens, TN 37371-0326; Friends of the Library, 1289 Ingleside Ave., Athens, TN 37303; or Hiwassee College Auditorium renovation project honoring Barbara Arwood, and mail it to Office of Institutional Advancement, 225 Hiwassee College Drive, Madisonville, TN 37354.

Published by Knoxville News Sentinel on Aug. 27, 2012.