Baker City, Baker County, Oregon
John Richard Armstrong, 85, of Baker City, died Dec. 31, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
His memorial service was Thursday at the family home. Father Julian Cassar officiated.
John was born on May 11, 1920, at Choteau, Mont., to Jack and Maude Gaghagen Armstrong.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Europe as a cook.
John was an easygoing, kindhearted man and everyone who met him was his friend. John never talked ill of anyone and all who met him were drawn to his loving soul and kind nature.
He had a soft spot for animals. He had fond memories of his dog, “Queenie,” and her ability to tell him every night when it was time for their milk and cookies.
John and Pearl, companions for 48 years, spent a lot of time together fishing. They would load up the camper and boat and enjoy time “alone” from the kids. Even after the children were gone, John and Pearl still devoted their free time to fishing and camping.
In fact, they relocated to Baker City for retirement just so they could have fishing close by. When they were younger and living in California, John and Pearl loved going to watch sports, especially wrestling and roller derby. The kids remember trying to convince them that the matches where entertainment and not “real.”
John was a loving dad and enjoyed spending time with his children. When they were young, the family took many trips to the beach together. Even when the children were older and would come to visit John, he would take them on trips to see the ghost towns, the mountains and Hells Canyon.
Sometimes John would have to work on Saturday, being the hard worker he was, and instead of missing out on time with his kids, he just took them along. When he had a route on a milk truck the kids rode along with him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Maude; a son, Bill Armstrong; grandson, Nathan Armstrong; great-granddaughter, Shanya Armstrong; and a brother, Bob Armstrong.
Survivors include his wife, Pearl; children, Brenda Leininger and her husband, Rickey, of Deltona, Fla., Linda Lambert and her husband, Michael, of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Karen Armstrong of Campbell, Calif.; grandchildren, Sonya Hoppe, Timothy Bell, Brian Armstrong, Wendi Armstrong, Justin Thomas and Jennifer Lazano; great-grandchildren, Kayla, Brienna, Joshua, Samantha, Melissa, Mathew, Jordan, Marcus, Cory, Ashley, Holly, Melanie, Katie, Adam and William; and sister, Margaret Watson of Huston, Texas.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 6, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor