MH Raymond Armstrong

Raymond passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 , at Central Washington Hospital, Wenatchee, WA. He was born on November 6, 1925, in Flagstaff, Arizona, to Whit Armstrong and Rossie Elizabeth (Clift) Armstrong. When Raymond was just 6 years old, his father died of pneumonia. For a time, his mother took Ray and his two brothers to stay with family in Arkansas. Then they moved to Prescott, Arizona, where Ray spent most of his youth. When WWII broke out, Ray dropped out of his senior year to enlist in the Navy. He served on the USS HASKELL, a troop transport vessel, as a radio operator. He saw action throughout the Pacific and became a member of the ANCIENT ORDER OF THE DEEP. He earned three ribbons and three Bronze Stars. After Ray returned home, he met Dorothy. He loved to tell the story about how they met. She was working in his brother's laundry shop. Everyone remembers him telling about her "pretty blue eyes." That first meeting, when he knew she was the pretty little girl for him, started a romance that would last for 66 years. Their wedding became part of Compton's Centennial Celebration. They were selected by the city to have their marriage witnessed by the entire town, complete with gifts from the merchants and a parade following. As part of the parade, Ray pulled his new bride through town in a little red wagon. Ray and Dorothy first lived in Compton while Dorothy finished high school. A year later, Ray was able to get a Cal-Vet loan, which they used to buy their first home where they raised their three children, Connie, Dan and Cliff, in Bellflower, CA. It was a little two bedroom one bath home that he eventually built into a rambling three bedroom home with two baths, a loooong hallway, a fabulous kitchen, huge family room and two fireplaces. He also moved the garage and added an office behind it. Ray was always looking for ways to improve. Building their dream home to completion took them up until they moved to Washington, more than 25 years. The reason Ray was able to do so much building was because he became an electrician. He served his apprenticeship as an electrician with the Santa Fe Railroad. He created the first pocket-sized schematics for the refrigeration cars they worked on. Once he'd served his apprenticeship, he went to work for Cassidy Electric and worked for him until he started his own business, Armstrong Electric. Ray was a dawn-till-dark worker. He was always on the job, working, thinking, and planning. He received an honor from DISNEY for his innovative way of wiring for heating a large building in San Pedro. The award was presented in DISNEY'S PAGENT OF PROGRESS ATTRACTION with a dinner after at the prestigious CLUB 13. Because of his success as a contractor, he was able to take Dorothy on many worldwide tours, including Acapulco, England, Spain, the Caribbean and New England. Everything he did, he did for her and his family. During the time Ray was getting his feet under himself as a husband and father, he met the LORD. He didn't miss an opportunity to attend church. He became a Sunday School bus driver, a participant in all church activities, a chaperone for the high school parties and just there when anything needed to be done. When the new sanctuary was built, Ray was part of the design team and the electrical contractor. He and Dorothy donated many hours in building that house of the LORD, Calvary Baptist Church in Bellflower, CA. After the church was built, he became the soundman. He loved his many friends at Calvary. What would make Ray and Dorothy leave family and friends and make the move to Washington? It was many summer vacations to visit Ray's favorite Uncle Herb and Aunt Dean in Wenatchee. That planted the seeds that eventually led them to move to their own "Armstrong Ranch." They planted a small cherry orchard and raised one or two beef a year for many years. Ray was proud of the HUGE cherries he always produced from his orchard. Leaving their family in California was hard on Ray and Dorothy. They made many trips back and forth. Eventually, Dan and Connie and her family moved to Washington, which made Ray happy. His family became even more important to him after he retired. The move to Washington did not stop Ray's activity. He worked for Apple City Electric until he retired. He was an active member of several churches, but first and last, First Baptist Church in Wenatchee where he had many friends. Leaving their family in California was hard on Ray and Dorothy. They made many trips back and forth. Eventually, Dan moved up, married and had a son; Connie, her husband and three children moved closer and could visit often; and finally Cliff was able to move up to care for him and Dorothy when the time was right. Ray was a proud man - proud of his Dorothy, his family and being able to live the AMERICAN DREAM. Everyone knows how proud Ray was of his family. He was not shy to sing Dossie's praises and he told his three children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren he was proud of them every time he was with them. They know everything he did was for them. What a legacy he leaves them! After 65 years together this past year, Ray's Dorothy passed away. He was devastated. Every day he mourned her passing and looked forward to seeing her again. On April 29, just eight months after losing her, he was with his pretty little girl with the blue eyes once more. Ray's legacy is a strong one. His love and generosity to family, church and friends; his work ethic; his love of fun and jokes; his faith in God and his love for the US leave those left behind here inspired to live better and waiting to meet him on the other side. Ray is preceded in death by his wife, parents and brothers and a baby sister. He is survived by his children-Connie (Ray) Shelters, Dan Armstrong, and Cliff Armstrong; 9 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren.

MH Raymond Armstrong

November 6, 1925 - April 29, 2014