Robert H. Armstrong

1925 - 2008

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert H. Armstrong, beloved husband, father, grandfather and best friend. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at the age of 83, he has now moved on to join his mother, father and one daughter who have preceded him.

He was born in Chicago on April 6, 1925, to a family that was struggling economically. During the Depression they lived in a small two-room apartment on the south side where he bunked up with his sister, June, and brother, John. His parents slept on the pullout couch because the master bedroom was rented to their aunt. During high school, the family moved to Florida to find some better opportunities. Little was found so they traveled again to Texas. Robert advanced so quickly through his high school studies that he began college at Texas A&M and completed about two semesters of college before graduating from high school. He was also helping his father to begin a construction business during these years.

World War II was on and so he joined the Naval Air Corps, which recognized his potential as a pilot. The service made him a cadet and trained him to fly an Avenger, which was a low-flying torpedo plane. Just when he completed his training, the war ended. Although he was a very hard worker, this was the first of some very fortunate opportunities.

After the war, he attended Berkeley to complete his studies. He achieved his degree in mechanical engineering. Shortly after this, he landed a job as an engineer with the City of Los Angeles. He joined a team of engineers who were tackling a substantial project in designing the world's largest sewage treatment plant. Hyperion became a point of pride as his first professional accomplishment. He joyfully felt a certain kinship to Art Carney's character in "The Honeymooners." Ed Norton worked in the sewers as did Robert. He became a building inspector for the city, which created next opportunity. His father was building spec homes in Southern California, so while he was inspecting he also studied for and got his license as building contractor. At the same time, he also began building a larger family with the birth of his first child, Karen. His career as a builder looked promising and within a few years they were joined by his brother, John, and sister June's husband, Richard. Around this same time his second child, John, came along in 1953. They continued to grow the family business, and he also expanded his family with the arrival of Lori, his third child, in 1957. They made a comfortable living for their families through the '50s and early '60s. In 1963, his fourth child, Bob, was born, and in 1965 along came Carol, his youngest child. Robert lost his father in the mid '60s right when the industry softened. They had to make some very difficult decisions. As the new patriarch of the extended family Robert's guidance lead them to some very successful developments.

Some of these successes came from his talents as an innovator. He designed a modular building design for apartments that was virtually waste-free. This was so intriguing to the Federal Housing Administration that it had inspectors continually on-site to learn from him. He was the first developer in California to propose residential condominiums and later commercial condos. The state had no guidelines so he had to write their C,C&R's (Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions). The bulk of these first C,C&R's are still in use today as state guidelines. As an innovator, he was also an inventor. He created the first electric carving knife and a hydraulic garage door opener that operated silently on a small volume of household water. These are only a few examples of this man's diverse creative talents.

Through the '70s he was enjoying his regenerated success when he met Carol, his wife of 32 years. They remained devoted spouses until his passing. They could have retired in the mid '80s, but together they blazed a new trail by moving to Ventura County with plans to open greater opportunities for his family.

He built a few custom homes just to stay busy and joined the Las Posas Country Club. He has been a member of the club for two decades. Although he enjoyed playing golf, he found it to be a frustrating game. His true joy at the club came from the dear friendships that were cultivated.

His commitment to strong family values is reflected in his loving grandchildren, Kelley, Matthew, Michael, Katherine, Christiana, Stephanie, Robert and Rachel.

He has been a teacher as well as a provider. He never stopped encouraging performance and assisting in any capacity that he could whenever and wherever asked. He was a driver in every sense. A car enthusiast but moreso a driver in life. Driving as in guiding and driving as in pushing one to perform. He always said "you have to have a spark plug." When things became difficult, he would remind us that "it can't last forever." Another of his favorite encouragements was "when you work, you work hard, when you play, you play hard." He did just that. He rarely relaxed. He was always going. Whether it was working, camping, athletics, games, socializing or telling stories, he always got the most out of life. A wonderfully happy person, he loved practical jokes and witty banter. He enriched every life that the touched. Robert will be greatly missed by all who have had contact with him.

The family would like to send a sincere thank you to his doctors for their efforts during this trying time. We would especially like to thank the team of dedicated nurses on the fourth floor of the north wing at St. John's hospital. Their compassion and professionalism truly helped to ease his and his family's transition during this time.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, in Chapel of the Island at Conejo Mountain Funeral Home, Camarillo, with burial following at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park.

Assisting the family with funeral arrangements is Conejo Mountain Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 2052 Howard Road, Camarillo; 805-482-1959