Robert Armstrong

Robert (Bob) Armstrong, 91, passed away on May 18, 2022 at his home in Centennial, Colorado.  Bob was born January 31, 1931 in Denver to Mabel Stevens and Charles Emerson Armstrong. He was the younger of two brothers.

Bob grew up in Durango, Colorado, graduating from Durango High School. After high school, he attended Colorado State University, then transferred to the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he received a degree in accounting. While at CU he dated the love of his life, Joann (Jody) Duncan, also from Durango. Jody and Bob were married on August 29, 1954 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Durango and spent the first months of their marriage in Fort Riley, Kansas where Bob served in the United States Army as a sergeant in an artillery unit. As an accomplished athlete, Bob was reassigned to play on the Army softball team instead of being sent to Korea.

After being honorably discharged from the Army, Bob worked as an accountant and auditor for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Company in Denver, and after earning his CPA, joined King Sooper’s in the corporate office where he held several management positions. After King’s was acquired by Kansas-based Dillon’s Grocery Stores, Dillon’s promoted Bob to the position of vice president and corporate controller, which necessitated the family’s move to Hutchinson, Kansas. Bob worked for Dillon’s for the remainder of his career, assisting with Kroger’s acquisition of Dillon’s.

Often flying to corporate properties for Dillon’s, Bob studied for and earned his pilot’s license to be prepared to assist in case of an air emergency. During his spare time, he pursued his creative side as he sketched, painted, designed stained glass pieces, and made wine. He loved playing golf, watching college basketball, and skiing. He skied most recently on his 89th birthday with his grandchildren at Purgatory in Durango, where he taught them to ski nearly 30 years ago. At age 88, he shot his second hole-in-one of his golfing career at Kissing Camels.

Bob’s family and many friends enjoyed his sharp wit and dry sense of humor. He was a devoted grandfather, teaching bike riding, how to drive a golf cart, playing golf, building tree and club houses, and always encouraging them to work hard and pursue their dreams.

After retirement at age 58, Bob served as president of Prairie Dunes Country Club and served on the HOA boards of both Vallecito, Colorado and Kissing Camels in Colorado Springs. In pursuing a life goal to see the world with his wife and friends, he and Jody traveled extensively, visiting 6 of 7 continents and more than 100 countries. His particular favorites were seeing the pyramids in Egypt, the plains of Africa, and several golfing trips to Spain, Portugal, and Scotland.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Mabel and Charles, and his brother, Chuck.

Bob leaves a loving family who will miss him dearly: Jody, his beloved wife of 67 years; sons Steve  Armstrong (Carleen) of Aurora, CO and Jeff Armstrong (Kim) of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren Benny Armstrong (Caitlin Cavanaugh) of Ventura, CA, Bailey Pianalto (Vince) of Overland Park, KS, and Luke Armstrong of Aurora, CO; and nieces Sherri Christensen (Steve Allison) and Debra Sisk, all of Kiowa, CO.

In celebration of Bob’s life, a memorial service will be held on June 13, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., at the Chapel of Our Saviour Episcopal Church, 8 Fourth Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in Bob’s name be made to First Tee - Southern Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado, or Christian Living Communities  of Denver (Holly Creek Retirement Community, Centennial, Colorado).