Ellis Dunbar Armstrong

Ellis conducted his departure with dignity on 13 March, 2020 at his home overlooking Beacon Hill Park’s Cricket Pitch, exactly as he had always wished. He has now joined his beloved Barbara who pre-deceased him by 17 years.

Born in Regina, Saskatchewan on 21 September 1941 to Captain (Navy) James Dunbar Armstrong, CD and Arabella (nee Ellis), his first name carried on his mother’s family name and he was blessed with the dreaded Armstrong middle name of Dunbar. As the son of a military officer he learned how to move at an early age, enjoying postings to Halifax, Victoria and Ottawa much the same as many other children in Navy families.

A graduate of Albert College in Belleville, Ontario his gap year took him to Barcelona and Madrid Spain, where he worked on his sketchy Spanish and grew to appreciate cognac. Returning to Canada, he graduated Carleton University in Ottawa with a BA (Commerce). While having grown up and matured in the 60’s, Ellis somehow missed out on the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Doors and ended up being a Ray Conniff fan. This resulted in his children being raised on “elevator music” instead of rock and roll much to their shared disappointment.

Career wise, his initial work with the Welfare Department of Ottawa enabled him to secure a position at William Head Penitentiary as a Case Management Worker in 1971. The return to Victoria was especially welcome as his parents had retired here. He served with Corrections Canada at William Head for over 28 years and refused a number of promotions that required a posting in order to continue to live the lifestyle that only Victoria offers. During lunch hours while at William Head, he would fish from the dock landing a number of salmon and a record 36 pound Ling Cod which was subsequently published in the Corrections Canada newsletter. All good things come to an end, including fishing, when an inmate used the fishing dock to escape and it irritated Ellis immensely that the dock was not replaced which brought his fishing lunches to an end.

A lifelong audio and technophile, in retirement Ellis appears to have purchased every Apple product ever made and seemed to collect a new flat screen TV each year culminating in the mother of all curved Samsung’s which brought him a great deal of enjoyment.

Ellis is survived by his son, Lieutenant-Colonel Warren Dunbar Armstrong, CD, MA (Captain Charlene Lindsay, CD); his daughter Ann Ruthellen Armstrong, MA, MLIS (Kevin Enomoto); grandsons James Dunbar Armstrong and Ian Joseph Armstrong; brother-in-law Ernie Dugal (Winnie) niece Trish Dugal (Dan, Clara and Jonah); and Cody Lindsay (Kaleena, Taya, Abigail and Aidan).

The family would like to thank Rebecca Littlejohns, RN, Ellis’s private home care nurse who ensured his comfort in his final days. Thank you to the First Memorial Team for their services.

A private family Celebration of Life will be held.

Armstrong Clan Motto: I remain unvanquished.