Gary Joseph Armstrong

Gary Joseph Armstrong was born September 24, 1949, the second child of John S. Armstrong and Esther M. Armstrong (neé Scheffert). He received the gift of Holy Baptism on November 27, 1949 at First Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, IL, where he lived as a child until moving to Glendale, AZ at the age of 9. He graduated from Glendale Union High School in 1967. Gary married Linda Chambers on August 5, 1972, whom he loved devotedly through 52 very happy years. God blessed them with twins Kelly and CJ on April 19, 1974. He was confirmed and received as a communicant member of Redeemer Lutheran Church on December 14, 1975.

Gary served in the Army National Guard in Arizona and California 1970-1976, in transportation and light / medium mechanized infantry, attaining the rank of Spec 5.

While Gary was attending Northern Arizona University, he began working at Skaggs drugstore, and soon began managing his own stores (which evolved to Savon, Osco, and CVS), faithfully contributing 44 years to retail management before retiring on his birthday in 2014. His career brought him to Bakersfield, CA where his children were born; Tustin, CA in 1978; and Glendale, AZ in 1981. Linda and Gary lived in San Diego from 1995-2001 before returning to Peoria, AZ for the rest of his career.

Gary’s love for sports as a youth extended to his adult life. He loved playing baseball and softball, regularly bowled in leagues with colleagues and friends, and spent many happy weekends golfing with friends and family. He was a formidable coach in a year of little league, and just as formidable from the armchair as he followed golf, football, baseball, and college basketball in the living room.

Weekend roadtrips and family vacations furnish many happy memories for his family. The Arizona highways were just as fun for him as the destinations, whether a weekend trip to SoCal or a Saturday jaunt to a ghost town or the Mogollon Rim. He loved to travel to visit places of historic interest, and most recently enjoyed many trips to and tours of presidential libraries. Most vacations were trips to visit relatives, whether in southern Arizona, Washington, or Idaho, instilling and reinforcing for his wife and children the priority and high value he placed on family.

He was the most greGARYous guy. Gary had the gift of being able to walk into a room of strangers and have friends at the end of the hour. His brothers and sisters-in-law, as well as his mother and father-in-law, were his closest lifelong friends, once again underscoring the high esteem in which he held family. For the last decade and more since retirement, his family affection, love, and service extended to his fellow saints at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Phoenix, where he served as sometime congregational president, faithful hearer of God’s word in Christ, and baptized believer.

Gary is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda; children Kelly Reece (John) and CJ (Rebecca); grandchildren Giselle and Manny Tijerina, Ankara Hansen (Max), Antalya, and Asher Armstrong; sister Jennie Coons (Tim); and many beloved nieces and nephews and other extended family. He is predeceased by his mother Esther (+), father John (+), stepmother Marjorie (+), and brother Michael (+).

Gary died on April 4, 2025. God granted Gary the grace of 75 years, 6 months, and 11 days of life on this earth. God grant us the grace to accept his holy will in Christ.

In lieu of flowers, Gary and his family welcome donations to the St. Paul Memorial Fund.