Robert Armstrong's Obituary
Robert J. Armstrong Jr. (1919 – 2021) Robert J. Armstrong, 102 years old, passed away on Oct. 23 in Dallas, TX surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 9, 1919 to Mary Dooley and Robert J. Armstrong Sr. A visitation service will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 3 from 3-5pm @ Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. There will be a private memorial service held on Thursday November 4 at 10:00 am @ DFW National Cemetery.
Bob grew up on Staten Island where he graduated high school in 1936. In 1939, he joined the National Guard and became a private in the army and a member of the 69th Regiment (The Fighting Irish) He served two years in Alabama and receive the rank of Corporal as a Telegraph Operator. He received orders to report to pilot training and started flight school in November 1942. After stations in Cuero, Texas, Randolph Field and Ellington Field he received his pilot rating and a commission of 2nd Lieutenant on May 24, 1943. Next, he reported to the air base in San Marcos, Texas in June of 1943, where he trained cadet navigators. In the spring of 1945, he traveled to Naples, Italy and on April 2, Bob was promoted to 1st Lieutenant as part of the 327th Troop Carrier Group with orders to fly troops through Italy and North Africa at the end of WWII.
Bob joined the newly formed Air Force in 1948 signing a 3-year enlistment to train pilots and was sent to Japan in September 1948. He was interviewed by the chief pilot of General Douglas MacArthur and was chosen to be one of the General’s pilots, which also meant flying VIPs back and forth when meeting General MacArthur. He served as MacArthur’s pilot during the Korean War, traveling back and forth from Tokyo to Korea. Robert was awarded the Air Medal of Commendation from the United Nations Korean Command for his heroic work to help evacuate 12,000 American Marines and Army personnel who were surrounded by 120,000 Chinese soldiers at the Chosin Reservoir. In January 1951, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and went on to serve 12 more years in Kansas City, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Guatemala, and Minot, North Dakota, retiring from the Air Force as a Major.
After he retired from the United States Air Force, Robert began a business career with Xerox Corporation, and then moved on to work as a senior manager at Home Interiors & Gifts; retiring after more than 20 years of service. He enjoyed his retirement years with his wife Gloria attending Dallas Cowboys games, fishing at their family’s retreat in East Texas on Lake Fork and spending time with friends and grandchildren. Throughout his life, Bob and his wife always set a priority to serve the Lord wherever they lived, whether they were in Japan, Guatemala, North Dakota, or Dallas they found opportunity to share their faith.
Bob met his wife and the love of his life, Gloria Baker, in San Marcos, TX in 1943. The couple married on February 21, 1946, after he returned home from World War II, and went on to have five children: Bobby, Paul, Donald, Linda and Jeane, and 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, in 2003, and his oldest son, Bobby, in 2012 as well as his three sisters; Gertrude Strohm, Vera Carr, and Ruth Earl, and his half-brother, Andrew Engelhardt.
In lieu of flowers, the Armstrong family requests that donations be made to Truth Encounter (www.truthencounter.com), Box 580, Midlothian, TX 76065.
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