Beckham County, OK - Obits: Charity E. Armstrong, 1928
30 July 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

 ************************************************
 Copyright. All rights reserved.
 http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
 ************************************************

ARMSTRONG, CHARITY E.
(21 Jun 1928, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
Charity E. Wilber was born in Leavensworth, Indiana, November 24, 1841,
and departed this life June 17, 1928, in Erick, Oklahoma.
In 1857 she was married to James Riley and to this union were born two
children, William and Henryetta, while yet a very young man Mr. Riley
died, leaving the little family alone.
In 1873 she was married to Joseph Armstrong and to this union was born one
son, Bert.
Grandmother Armstrong as she was lovingly called by every one in Erick,
has been a very close and cherished friend of the writer for many years
and I had learned to call her my comforter, for to know her was to love
her.  With her great intellect, her broad vision and philosophy of life,
her smile and sunshine, her devoted christian life, always thinking of
others first and her self last, made her one of the very rare and lovable
characters of our community.
She was a member of the class of Loyal Women at the Christian Church, and
was never absent except for illness. We called her our Bible School girl
of 87 years, and embarressed (sic) when she was more faithful than we. 
She was firm in her convictions for right, and was a strong promoter for
all Christian and community work.
Space forbids me telling many things of her past life that she told me
about, things of the long ago and her pioneering days.
She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge, and until a few years ago was an
ardent worker.  Our hearts have been saddened and our days darkened by her
going, and with the poet we will say, "It is not all life to live or all
death to die", and we will bend our hope with fond tender memory of her
life of service.
All of her family have preceeded her, but one son and wife, Mrs. Alice
Riley (daughter-in-law).  One brother, ten grandchildren and nine great
grandchildren.  These and a whole community of friends all left to mourn
her loss.
The funeral service was held in the Christian Church of which she was a
faithful and interested member, and we know truly she has just begun on a
life that is more abundant.