Jodel Armstrong

Jodel Armstrong, 88, passed away Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the Eastridge Care Facility in Centralia, KS.

Jodel was born May 7, 1922. He was born at home, on a farm, a few miles west of Centralia, Kansas. His folks were Jessie (Yarger) Armstrong and Ed Armstrong. Times were tough; six children were born between homesteading at Bird City and the Centralia farm. Only two of the children, Joe and his sister Villa, survived infancy. Joe grew up in the country, farming, hunting and doing a bit of trapping in the timber. He graduated from Centralia High School. For the first 29 years of his life, he lived and worked on farms west of Centralia and then four more years of farming south of town. The family then moved to Centralia and Joe started working for the Kansas Department of Transportation, a job he held for 29 years. He retired in 1987, as a KDOT Sub-Area Supervisor.

Joe married Norma Irwin in 1951. They raised two sons, Gary and Gregg. Norma passed away in 1978. A few years later, Joe married Glenadene (Fowler) Armstrong. She passed away in 1994. His family then totaled two sons, a step son and two step daughters. He was blessed with ten grandchildren, and all had an opportunity to try fishing, shooting the BB guns and bouncing around with Grandpa in the old pickup truck. Two great grandchildren also enjoyed bouncing around on his knee. Joe has been active in the Centralia community his whole life, and always lived within 10 or 15 miles of where he was born. He spent some 45 years supporting the Boy Scouts of America, serving as Scout Master, Troop Leader at Scout Camp, Order of the Arrow Adult Leader and as part of the adult review team for countless Scouting courts of honor and boards of review. Most all the Eagle Scouts from Centralia, 1965 to 2005, knew Joe Armstrong. Joe earned his 60 year pin from the Masonic Lodge, and has served as Master of the Centralia Lodge and held offices in the Seneca Lodge. He was a member of the Congregational Church and Centralia the Cemetery Board.

Most of all he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grand father and enjoyed 88 wonderful years of serving his community. He is survived by two sons, Gary Armstrong of Gosport, IN and Gregg Armstrong of Olathe, KS; two step daughters, Vickie Meyer of Baileyville, KS and Carol Plymell of Assaria, KS; one step son, Doug Fowler of Chandler, AZ; ten grand children, two great grand children and many, many friends.

Funeral services will be Monday July 26, 2010 at 11:00 am at the Congregation United Church of Christ in Centralia, KS. Rev. Deanna J. Lewis will conduct the services. Pam Bachman will sing and Julie Gleason will play the organ. Casket bearers are Gary Armstrong, Gregg Armstrong, Jack Davidson, Rick Davidson, Dan Meyer and Ron Plymell. Burial will be in the Centralia Cemetery. There will be a visitation from 4:00 - 6:00 PM on Sunday afternoon at the Hayes-Popkess Funeral Home in Centralia, KS.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored by memorials to the Eastridge Adult Care Facility in Centralia, the Centralia Cemetery Association, and the Boy Scouts of America.