Lola Armstrong

Lola Bell Armstrong, 100, of Monterey, passed away, Friday, March 13, 2009 at Pendleton Manor.  She was the widow of J. Hiner Armstrong of the McKendree area in Highland County, who passed away on July 28, 1970.  She was born December 21, 1908 in Doe Hill the first child of Charles and Bessie (Leach) Botkin.

She and her husband were married September 8, 1926 and for many years they farmed; raising sheep, cattle and poultry.  She was a cook at The Four Winds Restaurant and was known for her “knee-deep pies”. When Aileen garment factory came to Monterey, she was employed there until her retirement in 1970 and then she became an Avon lady.

Mrs. Armstrong was a member of McKendree United Methodist Church and had attended Victory Chapel Christian Advent Church in recent years.  She enjoyed going to the Highland Senior Center to play Rook and visit with friends.  She also learned to crochet and loved to make afghans. She was also known for her love of gardening; growing her plants from seeds saved from the prior year, working in the dirt and seeing things grow.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Thelma Thompson; a granddaughter, Janice Thompson; a great-grandson, Bobby Hull; three brothers, Randolph, Woodrow and Dennis Botkin and two sisters, Grace Grogg and Marie Spain.

Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Ellen and Eugene Ratcliffe of Monterey and Adeline Hull of McDowell; four grandchildren Steve Hull of McDowell, Frances Hull of McDowell, Gary Thompson of Richmond and Greg Ratcliffe of Jacksonville, FL; eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two half-brothers, Frank Botkin of Staunton and Ray Botkin of McDowell and two half-sisters, Jerry Armstrong of Deerfield and Wilma Simmons of Verona.  Many thanks to her caregivers, Charlotte Botkin, Joy Moyers and Patricia Warner for the wonderful care given while she was able to be home and to the doctors, nurses and aides at Pendleton Manor while she was a resident there.

A funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m., Monday, March 16, 2009 at Obaugh Funeral Home in McDowell with the Rev. Dave Boger officiating.  Burial will be in McKendree Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Active pallbearers will be Rudolph Siron, Bill Huffman, George “Goog” Colaw, Harold Ford, Gary Thompson and Bill Hull.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Highland Senior Citizens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Highland County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 268, Monterey, VA or Highland Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 267, Monterey, VA 24465 or Pendleton Manor, P.O. Box 700, Franklin, WV 26807.