Meet Your Future Neighbors: CAROL AND KEN MCARTHUR
Carolyn and Ken McArthur currently reside in and enjoy Columbia, Tennessee. They retired to Columbia about 15 years ago and their path to this small city has been full of music, good friends, and strong faith. Ken’s motto is “it’s not what you do, it’s who you do it with.”
Carolyn was born and grew up in Nashville. Though she had not anticipated going to college, her talent on the violin led to her receiving a full scholarship to Middle Tennessee State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education there and then stayed on to get a master’s in supervision and instruction. During her career, she worked as a teacher and elementary school principal in both private and public schools. She was the first woman principal at Briarcrest Christian in Eads. She left Tennessee for Dothan, Alabama where she worked as a principal at a public school. It was in Dothan that she met Ken while playing violin (both are violinists) with the orchestra at First Baptist Church. They met in October 1981 and were married by February 1982!
Ken was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and grew up in Greensboro. Like Carolyn, he was also full of musical talent. He began playing violin in the fourth grade and kept at it both through school and private lessons. He received a scholarship to Appalachian State University and attended there one year before transferring to NC State where he began a degree in industrial engineering. Late in his sophomore year, after receiving a low draft number for the war in Vietnam, Ken joined the Navy and qualified for nuclear power school. He completed three years of schooling and was required to extend his service time, thus serving a total of seven years in the Navy, four of which were spent on submarines.
After his service, Ken wanted to complete his degree and also use all he had learned in the Navy. He went back to NC State and changed his field of study to nuclear engineering (where fortunately they had a nuclear research reactor). Ken also got his license from the Atomic Energy Commission and worked part time as an operator. Upon graduation, he went to work for Duke Energy at a power plant being built in Catawba. Eventually, Ken sought a change of locale so he could teach. He found work with the Farley Nuclear Plant in Dothan, Alabama. Carolyn caught his eye in the church orchestra and their lives together began.
Though their lives in Dothan were good and full of wonderful friends, lots of music, and a nice church, contract work in Dothan began drying up and Ken took a job with the Alabama Power Company. Former colleagues of his hired him and Carolyn to New Orleans for a visit in hopes of getting them to move there. The couple decided there were lots of opportunities for them there and made the move thinking they’d only stay for a few years. They stayed for 27!
Music continued to be a big part of the McArthurs’ lives. They played with a quartet and with a Pops orchestra. They even played for the Pope once! Ken continued his work as a nuclear engineer and Carolyn taught middle school in St. Charles Parish. She had a wonderful career there, even winning parish teacher of the year in 1996.
A huge event in their lives occurred in the fall of 1985 when they and another couple formed a worship team and planted a new church in their home. It began with six people and by Easter of 1986 had grown to over 80. The church moved to a shopping center and continued to grow and need more space. By 1997, they had close to 300 members. The church is now known as The Vineyard Church of New Orleans. When Ken and Carolyn last visited in 2019, there were 2000 members. The church was very impactful: “Peoples lives really changed,” says Carolyn.
They loved their lives in New Orleans and didn’t want to leave but when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, it really changed life in the city for them. “Things were just not the same,” says Ken. A few years later, they were able to retire. Carolyn still had roots in Tennessee, so they started thinking about a move back to her home area. With some help from friends, family, and fate, they found a perfect home in Columbia and have embraced life there. “People here are just the real deal,” says Carolyn. Ken took on some contract work for a few years but now they are both fully retired and very engaged in their community. They have busy social lives and are active in church (Church of the Nazarene) where Ken plays violin on the worship team and Carolyn runs a Bible study. Ken also teaches private violin lessons. Another part of their lives is local politics. Ken is currently treasurer for their state representative. He also has served on the executive committee and board of local conservative and GOP parties. Carolyn was involved in the Tea Party years ago, holding the position of secretary. “We stay busy,” says Ken.
Ken has a daughter from a previous marriage with whom he remains very close. She lives in Savannah and has a daughter of her own.
The McArthurs are planners and have an eye to what comes next as they get older. After hearing of Belle Springs, their interest was piqued and they went to a presentation to learn more. They liked what they heard and put money down to become charter members. They attended every meeting that Belle Springs had to learn more and more and eventually set up a one-on-one to determine whether or not to fully commit. “They answered all the questions we had to our liking, and the people were very friendly,” says Carolyn. “I’ve been extremely impressed with the people this organization has,” she continues. Carolyn also notes that it’s always easy to contact the staff and to get a meeting. “I’ve never heard a question that they couldn’t answer. They want to make you as knowledgeable as possible…all with no pressure,” she adds. After checking with their financial planner, Ken and Carolyn decided to sign up.
The prospect of downsizing is daunting, but both Ken and Carolyn feel comfort at knowing that they will be set up for life, with the options of assisted living and/or nursing care if needed. Ken is looking forward to having someone else doing all of the home maintenance, both inside and out! “All of our needs are going to be met so we’re pretty happy,” says Ken.