Longtime standardbred industry participant Hector Armstrong passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 29 at the Sun Parlor Home in Leamington, Ont. at the age of 93.
Hector lived an active life working as a mechanic, a truck driver and a harness horse trainer and driver. He loved horses and spent countless hours taking care of them at the Leamington Fairgrounds. He had a small plane that he loved to fly and he enjoyed telling stories of his many adventures. Hec took pride in using his skills to restore old tractors and trailers and nothing pleased him more than finding an old tractor and turning it into a beautiful work of art
Beloved husband of the late Shirley (Wilkinson) (2013). Son of the late Lorne and Margaret (McCallum) Armstrong. He was predeceased by his three dearly beloved brothers, Eldon McCallum (Mac) (the late Helen), William (Bill) (the late Blanche) and Ken (Norma). Hector will be greatly missed by his many nieces and nephews as well as his friends at the Sun Parlor Home.
Visiting at the Reid Funeral Home & Reception Centre, 14 Russell Street Leamington on Saturday, December 3, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. until time of Funeral Service to celebrate Hector's life at 10 a.m. Rev. Paul Rodey officiating. At Hector's request, a private family graveside service will be held at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made by cheque to the charity of your choice. Friends may send condolences or make a charitable contribution at
reidfuneralhome.ca.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Hector Armstrong.
Mr Armstrong first horseman i
Mr Armstrong first horseman i ever ran into, and talked with.
Early morning coffee at Blonde's variety and coffee on erie st. north in Leamington 1979 (after arriving to dj on CHYR Radio, first media job)
Already had my young Toronto betting chops, but this was first time I spoke to someone in the industry and at small track, just across the street, Leamington Raceway on the Fairgrounds where I'm sure Hector and others had done their morning feed and clean rounds and were having a coffee and swap stories... I recognized him and asked him about a race he was in I'd seen the night before (Thursday eve), and did he have something out Sunday afternoon i ought to 'know' about...he recounted the trip the night before but wasn't gonna say anything about Sunday's 'possibilities $$'. He said he didn't know who I was but appreciated young person interested in the game and asking questions, if only for a couple minutes.
He was part of the earliest summer cards I played in person in Leamington and he was right in the middle of everything. Some pretty nice crowds then too.
Hector, thanks...r.i.p.