Fred Gene Arwood

October 9, 1956 - November 22, 2012

Big Stone Gap, VA Fred Gene Arwood, 56, passed away on Thursday (Nov. 22, 2012) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, after 46 courageous days of battling leukemia. He was born on Oct. 9, 1956. He was a graduate of Powell Valley High School. He started in the auto parts business in 1974 and was presently owner of General Auto Parts in Big Stone Gap. He was a former member of the Jasper Vol. Fire Dept. and the Big Stone Gap Vol. Fire Dept. Fred loved to golf, but when asked how he played he always said "not too good!" He was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Evelyn (Hamm) Arwood; and a half-brother, Bill Arwood. He is survived by his wife and soul mate, Gail Pearcy Arwood, of the home; his very special sister-in-law and brother-in-law who were with Fred through everything, Sandy and Ronny Stroop of Mt. Juliet, TN; his nephew whom he thought of as his own son, Noa David Stroop of Mt. Juliet, TN; sister, Jan Blevins and husband, Danny of Kingsport, TN; brothers, Herbert Arwood and wife Penny of Jasper, VA, Kenneth "Bub" Arwood, and Gary Arwood and wife Arlene, both of Big Stone Gap; half brothers, Jack Arwood and wife, Carol of Sandusky, OH, Johnny Arwood and wife, Llana of Knoxville, TN, and Donnie Arwood and wife, Doris of Norton, VA; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ralph and Bernice Pearcy of Duffield, VA; special and close friends, David, Diane and Kristi Coomer of Big Stone Gap; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at Holding Funeral Home (17 E. 3rd St., N.) in Big Stone Gap. Burial will be 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Pearcy Family Cemetery (351 Chase Drive) in Pattonsville, VA. The family and friends wishing to attend will meet at the funeral home by 12 noon Sunday to go in procession. To view the obituary and offer condolences, please visit www.holdingfuneralhome.com. Holding Funeral Home is honored to serve the Arwood family.