Robert Armstrong

Robert “Bob” Charles Armstrong, 59 of Battle Creek, passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2013 surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born December 25, 1953 in Battle Creek, Michigan to Robert and Lucille (Fairchild) Armstrong. He graduated from Lakeview High School in 1972 and married his high school sweetheart, Margaret “Peggy” Ann Gatling in 1975. She preceded him in death in 2010. Bob worked at Starr Commonwealth for nearly 30 years as an Emergency Medical Technician. His duties included effecting emergency treatment to the resident youths, transporting and supervising doctor visits and the administering of medications. He had an extreme passion for reaching out to the troubled youth in Starr’s residential setting and often said he was going to work each day to “make a difference and save lives”. After seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, he begged his dad for a guitar and they got him his first one with the stipulation that if he learned “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash, his next guitar would be an electric one. In 1979, Bob started forming what was to become The Edge. The Edge played at the Battle Creek Balloon Championships, World’s Largest Breakfast Table, Taste of Battle Creek and numerous bars, restaurants and charity events including a long series of fund raisers for the Food Bank of South Central Michigan. The highlights of Bob’s musical career included opening for America, Eddie Money and many others. The Edge was the backup band for Bobby Helms (Jingle Bell Rock) when he played for the Del Shannon Memorial Fund Raiser. In recent years, Bob has been playing music with the Whiskey Rhythm Band and the acoustic trio, Oliver, Wentworth and Armstrong (2BOBS&AJIM). He wrote numerous songs and participated in many, many recording sessions as a performer. Bob not only played both acoustic and electric guitar, he was accomplished on the harmonica, trombone and drums. Bob’s band mates were his brothers in life! While Bob was born, grew up and lived in Battle Creek his entire life, he traveled extensively with family and close friends to all corners of the country. He loved any adventure and how to get there was important…to be “King of the Road”; you had to have the right machine. From mopeds to jeeps to his Harley and his Corvette, Bob made sure he rode in style! Bob loved the water and spent endless hours with his family water skiing on Gougac Lake. Bob is survived by his two beautiful, amazing daughters: Jennifer Ann of Chicago and Sarah Kathryn of Traverse City. He is also survived by his mother, Lucille and his sister, Patricia McQuern. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert. Bob’s family will receive friends at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home on Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held 3:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with a private interment to be conducted at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Humane Society of South Central Michigan. Bob lived his life with true conviction, responsible yet always with a continuous desire for the next adventure. His life wasn’t about the “almosts”, because he made them a reality. Bob Armstrong was a “Lucky Man”; his heart will live on in all who knew him.

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