Robert Gerald Armstrong, 95, passed away peacefully in Fair Oaks, California on June 1, 2024. He was born in Los Angeles on December 22, 1928. Robert spent his earliest years living in Inglewood, California; Salt Lake City and Brigham City, Utah; and Bakersfield and Los Angeles, California.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), Robert served as a missionary in Western Samoa and American Samoa from 1955 to 1958. In addition to learning the Samoan language and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Samoan people, Robert authored a manual for missionaries to learn the Samoan language, and was a teacher and later the principal of Sauniatu School in Western Samoa.  His education included earning a master’s degree in business administration at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Through his teaching credentials, Robert taught at various Southern California junior high schools, high schools, colleges and universities, including Burroughs Junior High School (Los Angeles); Belmont High School (Los Angeles); Inglewood High School; Harbor College (San Pedro); Los Angeles Metropolitan College of Business; Santa Monica City College; Loyola University (Los Angeles); and UCLA.  His longest tenure in teaching was with the Los Rios Community College District, where he taught at American River College (Sacramento) in the Business Division from 1964 through 1993.

His longtime residency in Northern California began in 1964, when he moved to Citrus Heights. He settled in Fair Oaks in 1969.  While still living in Southern California, Robert met the love of his life, Carla Andreasen, in June 1963. They were married in the LDS Temple in Los Angeles on November 2, 1963.

Among Robert’s greatest passions were spending time with his family, maintaining and improving his Fair Oaks property, and reading books on Christianity and world history, especially ancient history. He had a lifelong love of nature and a dedication to protecting, rescuing and caring for animals. With his wife, Robert rescued 24 cats and cared for them the remainder of their lives, and the majority of the dogs that they owned were rescues.

Robert was preceded in death by his mother, Louella (Huber) Armstrong; his father, Francis Thomas Armstrong; and his sisters, Beverly Herrick, Ruth Scheiss, and Dorothy Gorham. He is survived by his wife; his daughter, Amy Goetz; his son, Lance Armstrong; son-in-law Mike Goetz; granddaughter, Amber Goetz; grandson, Jonathon Goetz; and many nephews and nieces.

Robert’s life will be celebrated at a graveside service that will be held at the Fair Oaks Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Robert’s name to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Buckstop Animal Sanctuary, of Vacaville, California at paypal.com/pools/c/953EJq3skg.