Susan Katherine Armstrong

After 86 sublime years, Susan passed away peacefully amidst immediate family on April 23rd, 2023 on Cougar Mountain where she had resided for 36 years. We are thankful that Susan had the time to reminisce on past great times with friends and family before passing.

Susan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 10th, 1937 to Joseph and Janie Downs. After being born, Susan had to remain in the hospital for the first month of her life as her Mother and Father could not cross the Cincinnati River to return to the hospital due to flooding. The nurse at the hospital cried when Susan finally went home as she had become so attached to her. In 1939, Susan joyfully received a little sister, Joie. Together they shared a lovely childhood and went on many adventures.

Susan attended Lawrenceburg High School (home of the Wildcats) where she was a Drum Majorette and choreographed all the band’s marching patterns. She moved to San Antonio in her sophomore year and finished Thomas Jefferson High School. In 1955, Susan enrolled at Southern Methodist University looking to earn a degree in Speech and Hearing Therapy. While at SMU, Susan joined the Tri-Delta Sorority and met her future husband, Thomas Armstrong. Susan and Tom dated all through college and eventually married on June 11th, 1960. Susan was an amazing wife providing unconditional love and support for her husband Tom for 57 years until the time of his passing.

Susan was a loving and devoted mother of two children, Bradley and Elizabeth (Lisa). She was also a very involved and loving Grandmother to her six grandchildren. Always willing to teach, laugh, nurture, attend sporting events and even go on camping adventures with them in the backyard.

After graduation, Susan taught speech and hearing in the Dallas school district. After that, Tom kept earning promotions which meant moving from city to city so Susan retired to become a full-time housewife. Susan enjoyed making friends and spent a lot of her free time playing tennis, skiing, volunteering and was also a member of the local Tri-Delta Chapter. Sadly, Susan lost her son Bradley in 1993 to a heart condition. In dealing with this loss, Susan became a huge advocate for Children’s Hospital. Susan joined the Seattle Children’s Guild Association and served on their board. She and Tom also went on to fund the Thomas Bradley Armstrong Endowed Chair for Cardiology. She became key part for a number of fund-raising events for Children’s such as the Kirkland Concours d’ Elegance and the Checkered Flag Club in conjunction with the local vintage racing group, SOVREN. With all of their hard work, Tom and Susan were awarded the J. “Jerry” Pennington Award from Children’s Hospital in 2011. The Pennington award acknowledges donors for distinguished and extraordinary commitment, exemplified by their leadership, dedication and service to Seattle Children’s Hospital.

After Tom began vintage racing, Susan soon grew tired of watching and decided to give it a try. Susan was on the smaller side so we thought we would get her a smaller car. She would have nothing to do with that and instead chose a 1963 split window Z06 Corvette – big bore racing for her! Susan became a very accomplished driver and even shared the track with Tom. Together they raced all over the United States and even into England and New Zealand. Susan was particularly proud that she earned her commercial trucking license and often drove the big rig full of race cars to events.

Today we bow our heads at the loss of a woman who did so much for her family, friends and community. Tomorrow, we will raise our heads again remembering her love, vision, commitment and sacrifice for the sake of family and community lives on in the best part of each of us.

Preceded in death by her son Bradley and her husband Thomas E., Susan is survived by her sister Joie Holder, sister-in-law Maxine Black and her daughter Elizabeth C. (Lisa) Anderson, son-in-law Steve Anderson and their six grandchildren Susan, Thomas, Steven, Elizabeth, Rosa and Katherine Truelson and her husband Robert.

Susan will be laid to rest at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue Washington. A chapel service will be held on May 1st, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Sunset Hills Funeral Home and then she will be laid to rest following the service at Sunset Hills Memorial Park with a reception and celebration of life to follow in the Sunset Hills Funeral Home.

Memorials can be made in her honor to Seattle Children’s Hospital, the Thomas Bradley Armstrong Endowed Chair in Cardiology.