Kathleen Ernie Armstrong

OBITUARY

KATHLEEN ERNIE SCARBROUGH ARMSTRONG

Kathy Armstrong of Ridgecrest died on Monday, June 4, 2018.  She was 92 years old.  Born December 2, 1925 in Marietta, Oklahoma, she had lived in Ridgecrest since 1954.  Kathy was preceded in death by her beloved husband Kenneth Armstrong.

Kathy and Ken came to the Indian Wells Valley in 1954 to work for Telford Moving Service.  In 1960 they formed their own moving company under Mayflower Transit Company.  Their original moving and storage business was located on South Warner across from the senior citizen's center.  In 1975 they moved their business to the corner of Bowman Road and Gateway.  Kathy and Ken ran it as a "family business" putting their five boys to work over the years.

Kathy was known for being very active in the Ridgecrest community.  She was active in PTA and received an Honorary Life Membership award for her service; she was a Boy Scout Den Mother; she was a charter member of Altrusa;  and she sang with Singing Sands Chorus of Sweet Adelines International.  She was a member of PACT Volunteer Ridgecrest Police; the Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert; the B Mountain Foundation; the Ridgecrest Planning Commission; the Ridgecrest Redevelopment Agency; the Friends of the Fair; American Cancer Society; and she manned the information desk at Ridgecrest City Hall as a volunteer one day a week for more than ten years.

Many awards were bestowed upon Kathy over the years, among those was the Jane Bugay Award from the Community Light Opera and Theatre Association; the Youth Ideals Award from the Fraternal Order of Eagles; the Service Above Self from the Rotary Club of Inyokern; the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award for Outstanding and Meritorious Service to Humanity; the Director's Award for Outstanding Service as a PACT Volunteer; a Regional Award of Merit for Community Involvement from the Kern Council of Governments; Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for Outstanding and Invaluable Service to the Community; Volunteer Service Award Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature Assembly; Certificate of Appreciation for Ten Years of Service to the American Cancer Society;  the Key to the City of Ridgecrest and the President's Volunteer Service Award from President Barrack Obama.  Kathy had received Certificates of Appreciation from too many organizations to list here.

Kathy was the oldest of seven siblings:  Willie, William, Clinton, Donald, Melba and Larry.   She and Ken continued the tradition of large families by having five sons:  Kenneth, Keith, Kirk, Kevin and Kelly who gave her eighteen grandchildren, thirty-six great-grandchildren and two great, great-grandchildren.

A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00am on June 16, 2018 at Desert Memorial Park, Ridgecrest, California.  A reception will be held after the service until 4pm in Sage Hall at the Desert Empire Fairgrounds.

The family requests donations in Kathy's name be made to the
Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601