Arden was born September 21, 1927 in Dayton, Washington to Virgil and Hellen Literal. He spent his growing up years there in Dayton and graduated from Dayton High School in 1947.Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy. He served for four years as a mail clerk and spent a good portion of that time in Kodiak, Alaska. He also went on a short tour aboard a destroyer in the Far East during the Korean conflict. In 1952, he entered into the Naval Reserve where he served the next 16 years as a photographer and later retired with 20 years of service.
Once his active duty ended, Arden attended the University of Idaho, working various off-season jobs to be able to attend one semester a year. Later, he was hired by the U of I as a photographer, while continuing on with his coursework. He eventually graduated with both his Bachelor’s and Masters in Education. After graduating from the U of I he taught for a brief period at the University of North Dakota, but quickly found that photography was his true passion. He returned to the Palouse area and was hired on at Washington State University as a photographer, capturing social and athletic events. He retired from there in 1990.
Arden joined our family when he married my grandma Joy on February 15, 1986. They met through the Pullman Square Dance Club and surprised their fellow dancers by showing up one weekend married. Their friends didn’t even realize they had been dating! It wasn’t until they showed off their rings, that the dance club believed them.
Arden quickly found his niche in our family and worked his way into all of our hearts.
He was a man of few words, but many passions including poetry, history, playing the banjo, gardening, collecting of fine antiques, as well as one of every gadget known to man, and of course his photography. He had a saying or phrase for everything; made a mean lentil soup; and was a real card shark.
Those of us who knew him well, learned quickly that his shy innocent smile was just a façade- that twinkle in his eye gave away his mischievous spirit. If he looked like he was up to something, he probably was! But, we also knew that he was a true kindred spirit. He was thoughtful, generous, and endeared by those that knew him.
Arden, you were truly loved and will definitely be missed. And- in your honor, the world’s smallest violin will continue to play on for many years to come!
