Waynesville, NC - Larry Cecil Arrington, 87, of Waynesville, died on Tuesday, December 9, 2008, at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville. Cecil is survived by Betty, his loving wife of 61 years, and their family, a daughter, Brenda and her husband, Mike Sutton, of Waynesville; and three sons, David of Wake Forest, N.C., Benny and his wife, Jane, of Waynesville, and Jerry and his wife, Nelda, of Arden; as well as seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Cecil was a member of Pleasant Balsam Baptist Church in Waynesville, where he taught an adult men's Sunday School class for more than 40 years.

Cecil was born on May 21, 1921, in Waynesville, one of the 10 children of William Rufus and Belle Smathers Arrington. He is survived by his older brother, Earl of Camden, S.C., and sister, Velda Holder of Waynesville. Cecil grew up on his family's farm in the Saunook community of Haywood County.

At the age of 17, Cecil joined the National Guard and was assigned to the 120th Infantry Regiment in Waynesville. The 120th was called to active duty on September 16, 1940, and was inducted into Federal service as part of the 30th Infantry Division as the United States prepared to enter World War II. The 30th Division participated in the Normandy invasion in June of 1944 and in many Allied victories resulting in the liberation of Europe. Cecil was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic actions during the Nazi counterattack at Mortain, France. Beginning on August 6, 1944, the 30th Division was overrun by German Panzer tanks and surrounded for 6 days and nights without food, medical supplies, or ammunition.

The 30th Division's refusal to surrender and its fierce defense of a strategic hill overlooking the town of Mortain were pivotal to the Allied victory in France. After the battle of Mortain, only 18 of the 150 men from Cecil's unit (Company H) remained. The 30th Division advanced across France, through Belgium, and into Germany. In a fierce battle near Euchen, Germany, on November 18, 1944, Cecil was severely wounded by enemy mortar fire. In order to save his life, doctors in England were forced to amputate Cecil's right leg. Cecil recuperated in England and at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he learned to walk again using a prosthetic device. Cecil was awarded two Purple Heart Medals for injuries he sustained in World War II.

Cecil returned to Haywood County and married Betty Massie on June 8, 1947. Cecil worked at the Royal Pilkinton tapestry mill in Waynesville for 21 years beginning in 1949. During the 1950's he set an apple orchard and began to sell apples, as his father and grandfather had done. In 1970, Cecil became a fulltime apple grower and continued until his retirement. The apple orchard that Cecil set in the 1950's is now a part of Pinnacle Mountain Orchards, the largest apple farm in Haywood County, which is operated by his son, Benny and his grandson, Stephen.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Pleasant Balsam Baptist Church in Waynesville, with the Rev. Ted Reeves officiating. The family will receive friends on the day of the funeral service, beginning at noon. At other times, the family will be at the home.

Cecil's family wishes to thank all of the dedicated employees of the VA Medical Center in Asheville that provided excellent care for him many times over the years, especially the nursing staffs of the 4th floor Medical Intensive Care and 2nd Floor Surgical Intensive Care Units during his recent period of declining health.