Robert C. Armstrong

Robert C. Armstrong passed away and joined his Eternal Father on Sunday, April 16, 2006 at his home in Lockhart, Texas.
Robert, known as Bob to friends and family, was born on Oct. 17, 1918 in Burwick, Texas. He began working at the age of 8 as a carrier salesman for the Standard-Times. During high school days, he worked after school in a barber and beauty supply busin

ess. Bob left San Angelo for Corpus Christi at 19 looking for a business career and at the age of 20 went independent. He and his partner, Dean McCall, founded Armstrong McCall and stocked their store on credit and opened for business. Two years later, Bob was a B-29 engineer and bombardier in the Air Corps. In 1944, during his 27th bombing raid, he was shot down over Yokohoma. There followed the seven months he spent in solitary confinement in a 5 by 6 foot bamboo cage. During those months, he dropped to 89 pounds, and drained his mind of everything. He vegetated, survived, and returned to Corpus Christi in 1946, with the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, three Presidential Citations, and the desire to resume his business, along with McCall. By 1960, the venture became a multi-million dollar business. In 1963, he purchased a ranch in Lockhart, Texas that was named the Armstrong Land and Cattle Company. He and his family moved to the ranch in 1969, where he remained until his death. Bob passed surrounded by his friends and loved ones.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lockhart, a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Prisoners of War Organization, Disabled American Veterans, National Rifle Association, North American Limousine Association, and Texas Southwest Cattle Association.
Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father, James Homer and Winne Ada Summar Armstrong; his brothers, James Homer, Jr., Hunter, Wanliss, and Jack Armstrong and his daughter, Doris Lynn Armstrong.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Fay Goodman Armstrong; three children, Linda Swayze and husband David, Palma Fehr and husband Kent, and Pamela Fritsch and husband John Robert; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, Tamara A. Patrick, husband John and children Adam Gage and Zane, Robert Ryan Armstrong, Brandon Armstrong Wilson, wife Deidre, and their children Haley, Gavin, Kayla and Kyle, Dusty Swayze, and Robert Blake Fehr.
The pallbearers were Eddie Vogel, Bill Clark, Darrell Goodman, John Goodman, John Patrick, Bruce Collier, Mark Hinnenkamp, Mike Hinnenkamp, Mark Walker and Dan Nolte.
The honary pallbearers were Derald Bauhs, Garland Shelton, John McCall, Ernest “Red” Ewald, Sonny De Luna, Jerry Voight, Jiggs Walker, William “Bill” Schroeder and Johnny Cheatham.
A visitation was held on Monday, April 17 at 7 p.m. at Eeds Funeral Home in Lockhart. The funeral was held at the First United Methodist Church in Lockhart on Tuesday, April 18 at 11 a.m. Burial followed at the Lockhart Cemetery.
Memorials in the memory of Robert C. Armstrong may be made to American Ex-Prisoners of War, 3201 East Pioneer Parkway #40, Arlington, Texas 76010-5396 or VFW Foundation, 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, Mo., 64111
Arrangements with Eeds Funeral Home, 408 South Main Street, Lockhart, Texas 78644. (512) 398-2343.