Arlene Ruth "Sparky" Tolan Deppensmith

Arlene Ruth Deppensmith passed peacefully on September 8, 2021 at Donalson Care Center, Fayetteville, TN; formerly from Huntsville and Harvest, AL.

Arlene was born in Mishawaka, Indiana, May 27, 1937, to Charles Arthur Tolan and Marion Louise Miller Tolan of Oak Harbor. She graduated from Salem-Oak Harbor High School in May 1955 and married Roger A. Deppensmith from Oak Harbor, September 7, 1957. A year later, they had their first daughter, Cathy and lived in Oak Harbor until December 1960 when Roger was transferred from Erie Army Depot to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL due to the depot closing down. Arlene continued to raise their family, bringing Joanne R. and Thomas A., into this world. Arlene cherished her three children for supporting each other and becoming successful in life.

Arlene was of the Lutheran faith, baptized May 25, 1950 in Oak Harbor, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and was a member at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Huntsville, AL. Arlene was a breast cancer survivor, a real trooper. After a long bout of illness and falls, she could not stay by herself anymore and started a new chapter in her life at Donalson Care Center April 2020 in Fayetteville, TN where the staff gave her the exceptional, professional, loving care and support. Her roommate, Ms. Mattie Honey had become her best friend and they were inseparable!

Arlene loved entertaining and interacting with people having a lot of parties back in her healthier days; Artex embroidery painting, Tupperware, Sara Coventry jewelry, and ceramics. Arlene loved baseball, NASCAR, and her “Buckeyes”. Arlene was President of the Huntsville Stars Booster Club, then stepped down but remained on the board for several years; Hospitality Chairman of the Huntsville Genealogical Computing Society; Board member and Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Scottish Society; Volunteered at Crestwood Medical Center; and a member of the Red Hat Society.

Arlene will be remembered for her kindness towards others and her smile, even when she was not feeling well. She loved travelling back to Ohio to visit with family and reunions with her classmates; Florida visiting family, and she even went on two cruises with her daughter, Cathy and niece, Betty Ann Noice (and family) to Alaska and Western Caribbean. She loved and cherished all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren so much. She supported them by going to their sporting events, dances, and plays. 

Arlene was the matriarch of her family. Survivors include her daughters, Cathy Deppensmith Webster of McBurg, TN and Joanne Deppensmith Rogers (Dwight) of McBurg, TN; and son, Thomas Deppensmith of Athens, AL; grandchildren, Tully Webster (Christina); Christopher Pittman (Jennifer); and Sarah Pittman; great-grandchildren, Kyleigh Webster, Emma Webster, Morrigan Pittman, Eli Molt, Levi Webster, Logan Pittman, Ezra Lanza, Maci Molt, Rowan Pittman, and Erin Pittman.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Roger A. Deppensmith; sister, Davetta A. Clark; brother, Thomas L. Tolan; and grandson, Justin T. Webster.

Services were held at Valhalla Funeral Home, Huntsville, AL and burial took place at  Valhalla Memory Gardens. Donations can be made to American Cancer Society, 2745 Bob Wallace Ave. Suite A, Huntsville, AL 35805. Sympathy cards can be sent to Cathy Webster, 227 Chicken Creek Rd., Frankewing, TN 38459

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