Obituary of Theron Armstrong

Theron Ottis Armstrong, 93, died peacefully October 18, 2006 in Tulsa. He was born on August 2, 1913 in Siep Springs, TX to Oatley and Minnie (Chrestman) Armstrong. Ottis was the second of five children. As teenager, he picked cotton, repaired cars and hitch-hiked to the Pacific Ocean. He worked at Trembly Manufacturing Co. of Dallas, TX. He enlisted in the Army during WWII where he served in the 593rd Engineers Boat and Shore Regiment in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he moved to Marshall, AR where he opened an auto repair garage and married E. Mardell Smyth on May 5, 1946. In 1952, they moved to Tulsa where Ottis worked for Midwest/Swinson Chevrolet until he retired in 1975. He and Mardell then moved to Lakeview Addition on Ft. Gibson Lake where they lived until ill health caused him to move to Ambassador Manor in Tulsa. Ottis enjoyed gardening, fishing, reading, helping his neighbors and traveling the Southwest. He was a pilot, having earned his license at the age of 53. He flew for the next 25 years. He is survived by his wife, Mardell; daughter, Sandra and her husband, Robert Curington, of Tulsa, OK; sister, Ora Smith, of Lubbock, TX; grandchildren, Sarah Wilbanks (Ryan) and Jeremy Curington and great grandchildren, Catherine Curington and Miriam Wilbanks, all of Tulsa. Services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Centenary United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dick Bland Officiating. Interment will be at 3:30 p.m. in the Pioneer Cemetery in Wagoner, OK. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Centenary United Methodist Church, 631 N. Denver, Tulsa, OK or American Hospice, 1340 E. 61st St.Tulsa, OK 74136. Ninde Funeral Directors, Garden Chapel 3841 S. Peoria Tulsa, Oklahoma 74105 918-742-5556