David Allen Armstrong

DAVID ALLEN ARMSTRONG: 8/15/1925-1/10/2021 Berty Lee Baker and Lindsay Otis Armstrong welcomed their middle child, David Allen, on August 15, 1925, into their growing family in Raleigh, North Carolina.  At very young ages, the band of three brothers, Ben, David and Ivan, were set free to explore the forests and travel the creeks and rivers of eastern North Carolina.  This free roaming life of adventures and accomplishments in the great outdoors, stayed with all three brothers their entire lives and defines values that Ben, David and Ivan have passed on to their next three generations. David entered Georgia Tech at 16 years old and graduated with an Aeronautical Degree, and an Officer Commission in the US Navy.  As good fortune would have it, he was assigned to a post in San Diego which would become his first West Coast home. In 1945 at an Officer’s Club dance he met the woman who would be his wife for the next 66 years. Leta Strait was smart, creative, talented and adventurous. In their first encounter, it helped that she also had a beautiful smile and pretty legs. David was a most handsome Lieutenant in uniform…. the sparks flew, and the rest is history.  Many of us are now part of that history. David and Leta raised five children in their cozy home in Tustin, CA.   David Jr, Richard, Joan, Tim and Betsy were blessed in a home of love, song, friends, camping, games, cooking, gardening, education, traveling and taking care of those less fortunate.  David and Leta’s home, teaming with children and animals, was always where the neighborhood kids would gather. We were often told that our parents were “a lot of fun”.  They were a wonderful team: perhaps she the quarterback, he the wide receiver; she the pitcher, he the shortstop.  That Team also helped raise their granddaughter Lauren in the same environment of love, encouragement, and adventure. A lifelong father-daughter bond was sealed early in her life as David was the only father she ever knew. Through the twists and turns of all marriages, theirs were two lives well lived together in the union that would become their one and only.  David became Grandpa to 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.  His clan of nieces and nephews and young friends is immense and they have always showered David with love and a desire to be with him.  His children’s spouses became intertwined in David’s life as Jan, Britta, Ken, and Celeste formed a deep, loving, caring and fun relationship with him.  Often traveling, exploring, enjoying gardens and dinners, his family grew and thrived with the added love of his cherished daughters and sons in law. David was a revered and much loved patriarch; not from an authoritative perspective, but from one of honesty, friendship, love, and humility. In later life after Leta died, he was the nexus of the family. All wanted to visit and engage with David. He was fun and exuded his positive energy to whomever he was with.  He built forts for kids, concocted mud pies garnished with flowers, sang his heart out and relished adventures of all sorts big and small.  His ready reply to any invitation was always “I’m game” or “Let’s do it!” David loved tending his garden and roses.  For that matter, tending anyone’s garden.  At family gatherings he would often disappear early on, only to be found pulling weeds or trimming roses in his own yard or a neighbors’. He was a person who people liked right away. To him, all were equal, all worthy of respect. He would stop and talk with anyone, give compliments and encouragement, ask how they are. He was never mean, belittling, or derogatory. He is described as a gentleman in the purest sense, someone special who brought life into a room with his smile, kindness and sense of humor. David moved into Silverado San Juan Capistrano in September of 2016.  It was a lifestyle that suited him well and he thrived, enjoying all that Silverado had to offer him.  Cats on his lap, dogs lazing in the sun and fetching the ball for as long as David would throw it.  Feeding the birds, music, crafts, wonderful meals, exercise, gardening, games, outings, and delightful and talented entertainers constantly putting on their shows.  David especially loved those shows and would sing out loudly and perfectly on key, quickly becoming the entertainers’ favorite.  He continued adventurous family outings to the extent that he earned the staff’s nickname, “frequent flyer”, often returning to Silverado late at night after exploring local attractions and feasting at his favorite pub where David was well known and always greeted with hugs, the best seats at the bar, great food, cold beers and good conversation. He was healthy, happy and dearly loved by the many wonderful, dedicated staff at Silverado. As some said, they “fell in love with our Dad from day one”.  David and Joan used to joke about how his kind, easy going personality served him well at Silverado.  He would say, “Joanie, you get more Bees with honey.”  For all of you who knew our Father at some point along his journey, we are very glad you had that experience. In his memory, we ask that you donate to his gofundme site created to help the extraordinary management staff, caregivers, nurses and doctors who knew, loved and cared for David in his final years and especially as he fought the monster that is Covid-19 in his final days. https://www.gofundme.com/f/Elderly-care-workers-COVID Our sorrow is deep but our memories are sublime. We will forever see him on a beach camping in Baja, hiking in the Sierras, deadheading roses in his garden, studying paintings of the great California Plein Air Masters at the Joan Irvine museum.  We see and feel his emotional stirring as he listened to songs of his life.  We see and feel him in the simple beauty of the world around us.  A Hummingbird, a vapor trail, the plaintive wail of a distant train, a beautiful Rose, a new moon, a quiet sunset. A soft and final kiss to our sweet Daddy, Grandpa, Uncle and Friend.  Until we meet again, Dear David……………………….. David is laid to rest with his wife Leta, at Fort Rosecrans in Point Loma, San Diego.  Their Columbarium overlooks the San Diego Bay, the USS Midway and the Officers Club where they met. GRANDCHILDREN (AND SPOUSES): Brian (and Lauren); Keira (and Steve); Daniel (and Katherine); David Nicholas (and Frances); Faye (and Chad); Lauren (and Cedric); Lilly, Daniel, Macy, Jeremiah (and Maria). GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: Walker, Logan, Charley, Wesley, Bella, Andrew, Jordan, Alice, Fia, Cameron, Baya, Sam, Irie, Scarlet, Clara, Abaleen, Griffin, and Jacinth.