James Arnold Von Hagen

The Life of Arnold Von Hagen
Servant Leader

James Arnold Von Hagen was born in Nashville, Tennessee, to Keith C. Von Hagen and Elizabeth White Von Hagen.  The couple raised their two sons, Stanley and Arnold in Nashville.  Arnold attended Hume Fogg High School where he took drafting classes, among other things, to prepare to attend Auburn University as an architecture student. Arnold met his wife, Elizabeth Sue Mixon Von Hagen  at Woodmont Baptist Church and they were married there in 1963.  They returned to Auburn after the wedding for more studies and then back to Nashville where Arnold began his career at Taylor and Crabtree Architects.

Arnold and Sue raised three children in Nashville and were active members of both Woodmont Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, Nashville.  They were married for 56 years before Sue died in early 2020 from Alzheimers. During his career he worked at several architectural firms, eventually retiring after 27 years as the Director of Planning and Construction for Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Most important to him, however, were the ministries he served.  At both Woodmont Baptist and First Baptist he taught Sunday School classes and at First Baptist he served as the chairman of the Missions Committee and the Executive Leadership Council. Arnold and Sue also traveled nationally and internationally with The Baptist Expression of Marriage Encounter, leading weekend retreats for couples working to improve their marriage.  He was on the board of directors of the Nashville Rescue Mission and also on the board of Missionary Tech Team. He was president of the Downtown Lions Club and a member of the YMCA property committee.  In his retirement years he provided architectural support to several retreat centers throughout Tennessee whose mission is to offer missionaries and other Christian leaders a place to relax and refresh.  Most notably is Eden Ridge, located in Fairfield Glade, Tennessee.

Arnold spent much of his free time enjoying lake trips and boating outings with his children and nine grandchildren. He and Sue traveled internationally to Israel, Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain. In recent years, he went on many adventures across the country in his RV. His last trip was a big family gathering in Whitefish, Montana.  Arnold and his two oldest sons, and one daughter-in-law, drove across the country to Montana in early May 2022 visiting many national parks along the way.  The entire family joined them in Montana and they spent two weeks enjoying Glacier National Park and other sites in the Montana area.

At age 82, he came into the presence of the Lord on Friday, June 3, surrounded by his children at his home.  A recent cancer diagnosis left his body too weak to battle an onset of diverticulitis.

He has many loved ones that miss him including his children, Hallie (Allen) Von Hagen McDavid, Todd (Lynn) Von Hagen and Drais (Paige) Von Hagen.  Grandchildren, Matthew (Morgan) McDavid, Maddie McDavid and fiance Lincoln Chambers, Will McDavid, Blake Von Hagen, Lindsey Von Hagen, Grant Von Hagen, Nate Von Hagen, Franklin Von Hagen, Annie Von Hagen, and a great-granddaughter, Magnolia McDavid. He is also survived by his older brother, Stanley (Jeannie) Von Hagen.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on June 18, 2022 from 11:00 am until the Celebration of Life service at 12:00 pm at Nashville First Baptist Church, 108 7th Avenue South, Nashville, TN. 37203