Reginald Lloyd Armstrong

Reginald Lloyd Armstrong (WW II veteran, RCN) passed away peacefully at Peterborough Regional Health Centre in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 2, 2002 at the age of 77.
Born and raised in Fort Frances, Ont., Reg joined the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve in 1943 at age 18. He trained at Port Arthur, Ont. and Cornwallis, N.S. He was drafted to the ship “St. Thomas,” a castle class corvette doing guard duty in the North Atlantic between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
He next served aboard the ship “HMS Puncher,” a British aircraft carrier manned by a Canadian crew.
Given three weeks’ leave, he returned to barracks in Halifax, N.S. and volunteered for duty in the South Pacific. After undergoing one week of training, the atom bomb ended the war.
He returned to base in Port Arthur, receiving an honourable discharge in April, 1946.
Following the war, he entered Ryerson College in Toronto, Ont. in the accounting program. He was employed by Norwich Union Insurance Co. for 14 years, ending as a multi-para manager. He then owned and operated
Armstrong’s Marina on Eel’s Lake in the Apsley, Ont. area of the Kawarthas.
He spent 31 happy years at the Marina and on his retirement, the Cottagers’ Assoc. arranged a memorable party to mark the occasion.
Not content to be idle, Reg built the beautiful Clanricarde House near Apsley, where he had lived for the past 11 years, operating a little antique and gift shop in his spare time. Patrons and visitors could almost always find him there working in his beautiful flower and vegetable gardens—his favourite hobby.
Despite his final illness, he never lost his sense of humour, his boundless capacity for generosity, his wisdom, and intelligence. A beloved brother and uncle, Reg had a special bond with his many nieces, nephews, and good friends the world over. He had a deep love for his family and friends and, in turn, is deeply loved.
Reg is survived by seven sisters and three brothers, Pheobe Mosley of Atikokan, Ont., Dorothy Norlund (Vern) of Rainy River, Ont., Pauline Smith (Bill) of Winnipeg, Sylvia Batcher of International Falls, Mn., Vivian Mullikin (Don) of La Crosse, Wis., Harold Armstrong (Marlene) of Fort Frances, Ont., Shirley Judd (Max) of Toronto, Ont., Anita Rostie of Toronto, Ont., Glen Armstrong of Nym Lake, Ont., and Roger Armstrong of Toronto, Ont.
He was predeceased by his beloved parents, Harold and Rosalie Armstrong; sister, Betty Cawston; niece, Tammy Wiita; and brothers-in-law, Jergen Mosley and Dwayne Batcher.
A memorial service is planned Saturday, May 11, 2002 at 3 p.m. at the Nisbett Funeral Home and Chapel, 600 Monaghan Rd. S., Peterborough, Ont.
Cremation has taken place and interment will be at a later date in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances.
If desired, in memoriam donations to the War Amps, The Lung Association, or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
There is no death! The stars go down
To rise Upon some other shore,
And bright in Heaven’s jeweled crown,
They shine forever more.
–J. L. McCreery