Fred Pershing Armstrong passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 in Lubbock. He was born on January 24, 1918 in Grandfalls, Ward County, Texas to Charles Edgar and Gadie Belle Armstrong. His family moved to Pecos in 1920. Fred had eight brothers and four sisters. He was preceded in death by brothers, D.H., Webb, Ed, Chester, Paul, Scott and Jimmy; and sisters, Sue Couch, Cathryn Bentley and Ethel Collier.

Fred graduated from Pecos High School and attended Texas Tech University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in May of 1942.

He joined the Navy in April of 1942 after Pearl Harbor. Fred was commissioned as Ensign. He spent four years in the Navy, 2 and a half of those years, in the South Pacific. Fred was involved in six major battles. After the Philippine campaign, he was on his way for the landing on the Japanese homeland when the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. In a briefing before hand, the officers were told to expect 85 percent casualties in ships and personnel. He was discharged from the Navy in December of 1945 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

On August 15, 1945, Fred married Ingrid Wall. He was involved in ranching and the oil business for 35 years with brothers, Cole and Scott. Fred also established and ran a successful civil engineering firm in Pecos for 31 years, until he sold the business in 1979. He moved from Pecos to Lubbock in August of 2003.

Fred is survived by his loving family, which includes his wife, Ingrid; two sons, Steve (Barbara) and Herb; daughter, Dorothy (Gary) Cowan; six grandchildren, Christi, Eric (Cindy), and Kyle Cowan, Slade Fred Armstrong, Jennifer (Steve) Osterloh and Stephanie (Brian) Hall; five great-grandchildren, Cody and Kaylynn Cowan, Reese and Hayden Fred Hall and Cullen Osterloh; brother, Cole; sister, Hope Wilson; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2009 at Pecos Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be at 10a.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at First Baptist Church in Pecos with David Allen Smith and Reverend Greer Willis officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Evergreen Cemetery under the direction of Sanders Funeral Home of Lubbock.

Memorials may be made to West of the Pecos Museum, P.O. Box 1748, Pecos, TX 79772; Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174; or a charity of your choice.