Sydna was born Sept. 18, 1939, in Elgin, Texas, to Syd and Nell Davis. She attended Elgin schools and graduated from Elgin High School as valedictorian in 1957. She attended Howard Payne University and studied history.

As a young girl, Sydna began taking piano lessons. She would play the piano faithfully for over 75 years. She shared her musical talents as a church pianist/organist, also playing for graduation ceremonies, funerals and weddings. In the final years of her life, she continued to play the piano on Sunday afternoons in her assisted living facility with a hymn sing-along.

Sydna’s love for history spanned her entire life. She would accompany her mother on “tomb stone jaunts” to find information about relatives. Genealogy was one of the hobbies she genuinely enjoyed.

Sydna married Ronny Arbuckle July 25, 1958. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage before Ronny’s passing. She attended countless baseball, football and basketball games during the years they were married. They also enjoyed traveling and seeing the beautiful world God created.

Once Sydna became a mother, she spent many years as a stay-at-home mom volunteering unselfishly wherever she was needed – at her children’s schools or various projects within Elgin.

When she decided to go back to work, she returned to the Texas Railroad Commission where she worked in the Oil and Gas Division. She eventually went to work at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld law firm. She began as a receptionist, becoming a legal assistant and returning to school to become a paralegal before she retired after 25 years of loyal service.

Sydna was incredibly involved in the life of Elgin. She researched and authored several books on the history of Elgin. These projects were a labor of love for her.

Ronny and Sydna were faithful members of Riverbend Church for many years. Sydna would answer the phones in the church office on Tuesday afternoons after attending bible study.

Sydna is survived by her daughter, Ronda Arbuckle Kirk (Carl) of Waco, her son, Roger Arbuckle (Kathy) of Katy, as well as her five grandchildren, Courtney Stewart (Charles) of Waco, Randall Arbuckle (Jennifer) of Wichita Falls, Aaron Arbuckle (Molly) of Elgin, Colby Kirk (Courtney) of Waco and Ben Arbuckle (Lauren) of Pullman, Washington and eight great grandchildren: Charlie, Bradley, Maddie, Brooks, Brady Arbuckle, Emma Arbuckle, Hudson Arbuckle and Natalie Stewart. Sydna is also survived by her sister Judy Davis of Elgin and many nieces and cousins.

Sydna was preceded in death by her parents, her maternal grandparents Elzo and Frances Pearl Been and paternal grandparents Oscar and Mary Frances Davis as well as her beloved husband, James Ronald (Ronny) Arbuckle.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Sydna will be held at a later date.