Joseph Armstrong

Joseph Arch Armstrong, 82, of Deerfield, passed away Tuesday, July 11, 2000 at his home after a long battle with cancer.

He was born June 8, 1918 at McDowell, a son of Jacob H. and Louie V. (Siple) Armstrong.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 42 years, E. Jearlean “Jerry” (Botkin) Armstrong; two sons and their wives, Charles Jacob “Jake” and Carol Armstrong of Deerfield and Wade Hampton “Tub” and Jennifer Armstrong of Salisbury, Md.; a granddaughter, Jennifer Ann Armstrong of Staunton; three grandsons, Christopher Wade, Daniel Reid and Neal Anthony Armstrong, of Salisbury, Md.; a niece, Dorothy H. Lamb of Staunton; and a nephew, Dennis B. Armstrong, Jr. of Millboro.

Mr. Armstrong was the last of his immediate family.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Fred C. Armstrong; three half-brothers, Dennis, Wallace and Don Armstrong; and a half-sister, Maude A. Hoover.

Mr. Armstrong was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII having served in the invasion of North Africa. He also served in the Coast Guard and worked in the logging woods of Oregon and Washington before returning to Highland County. He moved to Bath County in 1961. He was an avid farmer and has managed and worked at the Wilderness farm since 1961.

He was a member of the McKendree United Methodist Church, a life member of Highland VFW Post 4989, former member of the West Virginia Cattleman’s Association and Virginia ABA, a member of the Virginia AARP and a member of the NRA.

Mr. Armstrong also leave to mourn his special friends, Tom Stine, Leslie Travers and Jack and Susan Letner.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, July 14, 2000 at Obaugh Funeral Home by the Rev. Glen Davis and the Rev. George Yoder.

Burial will be in the McKendree Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Dean Simmons, Danny Truxell, Raymond Collins, Mike Avery, Victor Bussard, Bud Whitson, Clay Hewitt and Wayne Nidiffer.

Honorary pallbearers will be Gaylon Orbaugh, John Shiflet, Jack Letner, Eldon Hewitt, Wayne Bartley, Ray McDorman, Harold Harlow, Mark Lunsford, Ralph Moran, Clayton Plecker, Richard Clatterbaugh, John Hammer, Norman Rosenbaum, Richard Fauver, Dr. John Shayne, Gene Riddle, Brent and Kyle Obaugh, Duff Lewis Jr., and other friends and neighbors attending the service.

The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the McKendree Cemetery Association, c/o Sandy Botkin, P.O. Box 23, McDowell, Va. 24458 in lieu of flowers.