Prominent Maidstone resident Barry Armstrong OAM has passed away, aged 76. 76018. Photo contributed by the Armstrong family
By Charlene Gatt
PROMINENT Maidstone resident Barry Armstrong OAM has been remembered as a loving family man with a passion for Scouts and the Maribyrnong community.
Mr Armstrong, 76, passed away earlier this month after a short battle with cancer, leaving behind his wife Merle, kids Linda, Susan, Sharon and Wayne, and nine grandchildren.
More than 120 people attended his funeral, with donations made to Peter MacCallum Institute in lieu of flowers.
Mr Armstrong was born in Yarraville on 31 October 1935 and lived on Empress Ave during his childhood. When he was 10, he joined the 1st Footscray Scouts. It was the start of a lifetime hobby and a place where he made lifelong friends.
It was also where he met Merle in 1956. After a two-and-a-half year courtship, the pair married at St Luke’s in Yarraville.
After short stints in Spotswood and Bendigo, the pair returned to the City of Maribyrnong and lived in the same Maidstone house for the past 47 years.
The pair enjoyed a long and happy marriage, and liked to dance and socialise with the scout group.
Mr Armstrong started off his working life as a plumber, then became a trade teacher across Footscray, St Albans, Sunshine and Kangaroo Flat.
He retired in 1992 as vice principal at Glenroy Technical School.
In 2000, Mr Armstrong as awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia as well as the Silver Kangaroo, a scouting honour that is awarded for eminent achievement and meritorious service to the association for at least 20 years.
His daughter Sharon remembers a great dad and doting grandfather, who was forever making toys, cradles, and doll houses for his grandkids.
