Willie E. Armstrong

Willie E. Armstrong, 94, Marysville, died Sunday, November 4, 2018 at his home.The family received friends from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, November 8 at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville.Visitation is Friday, November 9, from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., at Kinsley Mortuary.A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 10, at the Marysville Berean Church.  Pastor Joel Barber will officiate.  Kathleen Fincham is the musician and the congregation will sing “How Great Thou Art” and “Old Rugged Cross”.The pallbearers will be Ben Throm, Derek Roever, Mason Finch, David Tillotson, Jim Tillotson and Darrin Svoboda.Burial will be in the Marysville City Cemetery.Willie was born Oct.14, 1924 in a farmhouse south of Marysville, the son of Andrew and Alma Fragel Armstrong.  He was a hired hand of veterinarian A.F. Wempe, where his love grew for horses.  He graduated from Marysville High School in 1943.  He was drafted and enlisted into service in June 1943.  He was a member of the Armed Air Forces 398th Bombardment Group 600th Bombardment Squadron where he served as a aircraft armorer and waist gunner in battles and campaigns over Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe during WWII.After returning from the war, he married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Morgan.  They later separated after 27 years of marriage.November 21,1973, he was united in marriage to Mary Lou Tillotson. To this union, he cared for his instant family with 2 sons and one daughter, and later another daughter.  Willie and Mary would have celebrated their 45th anniversary.Willie held many occupations in his lifetime.  He was a taxi driver, scabbed tires, and joined the U.S. Postal Service.  He retired in 1985 after 40 years of service.  After retirement, he sold insurance, carried out groceries and stocked shelves at Boogaarts, sprayed weeds for the Noxious Weed Department, assisted at Kinsley Mortuary, and managed the Thunderbird and Surf motels.  Lastly, he assisted Mary in operating her daycare the past 12 years.He served in many organizations.  He was a proud member of the American Legion Post #163, VFW Post #2599, Marysville Masonic Lodge #91, NeMar Shrine, Arab Shrine Temple, and Loyal Order of Moose. He was a Union Steward for the National Association of Letter Carriers.  He served 12 years on the Marysville City Council, and various other committees to support the betterment of the community. He was a devoted family man and a “people person” who didn’t know a stranger.  He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed sharing stories.  He was a proud and giving man, who was passionate about  making life a little better for many.He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Olinda Strifler.Survivors include his wife, Mary; two sons, Kevin (Robin) Throm, Marysville, and Scott (Lisa) Throm, Gladstone, MO; two daughters, Leslie (David) Holthaus, Beattie, KS, and Lisa (David) Roever, Home, KS; eight grandchildren; and several nephews and a niece.In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established and will be designated later. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Willie E. Armstrong, please visit our flower store.