The Life of JOANNE PAULINE ARMSTRONG
Joanne Pauline Armstrong, 76 years old, passed away from a collapsed lung on March 22nd at Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Oklahoma, surrounded by her family.
Joanne was born in Des Moines, Iowa on April 25, 1935, to Paul and Thelma Lawler. She was a 1954 graduate of East High School. She married Max D. Armstrong on July 23, 1955, and they cherished nearly 57 years of marriage. They spent their lives together in the Des Moines area, welcoming three children, five grandsons, and one great-grandson into this world. Joanne worked for Housby Mack Trucking in Des Moines for 18 years, and together with Max operated Whitey’s Transmission Service for 45 years.
Joanne was very involved in the American Legion, and served as President of the Lady’s Auxiliary for a number of years. After retiring, her and Max spent their winter months in Mathis, Texas, at the Wilderness Lake RV Park, where they met a number of wonderful friends. Joanne was involved in the Red Hat Society, and enjoyed playing cards and making crafts. However, what brought the most joy to her life was time with her family. She was a wonderful wife and mother and a loving and supportive grandmother.
Joanne is survived by her husband Max (Whitey), son DeWayne, daughter Paulette Doane, daughter Heather Bittner and her husband George, and grandsons Nicholas Armstrong, Andrew Armstrong, Jeff Doane, Austin Bittner, Brandon Bittner, and great-grandson Toby Doane, a sister Mary Morning; and a brother Richard Lawler. She was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Thelma Lawler, sister Beverly Breheny, and son-in-law Stan Doane.
Services for Joanne will be held at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines on Thursday, March 29, 2012, at noon. The family will welcome friends during a visitation on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Interment will be at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.
If friends and family would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made in Joanne’s name to The Mercy House, 1708 Cherokee Place NW, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401, which provided housing for the family during Joanne’s time in the hospital.
