Our Patriarch and Founder, Wayne William
Armstrong, passed away October 5, 2005 at the Hi Desert Medical Center
in Joshua Tree after a second battle with cancer. He was 66.
Mr. Armstrong had a varied background in business and law. He was a
Marine who served in Twentynine Palms in the late 50’s. He attended
California State College at Long Beach and graduated magna cum laude
with a BA degree in 1966. He attended Loyola University Law School in
Los Angles and in 1970 graduated with a Juris Doctor Degree (magna cum
laude). He was ranked first in his class. In January 1971 Mr. Armstrong
achieved his life long dream and was licensed to practice law in the
state of California. In 1981 he was licensed to practice before the
United States Supreme Court. He was at all times an advocate and
counselor. Throughout his life his love and passion of the law defined
him.
In 1978 Mr. Armstrong joined a then small, 50 unit regional fast food
chain, Del Taco, as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. His
primary responsibilities were real estate development, operations,
marketing, and franchise development. In 1981 Mr. Armstrong became an
owner, director, President and CEO of Del Taco. Over the next 9 years
Mr. Armstrong was directly responsible for growing the chain to over 300
restaurants with over 1500 employees in 6 states and one foreign
country. Mr. Armstrong sold the chain in 1988, repurchased it in 1989
and sold it again in 1990.
In 1993 Mr. Armstrong moved to the Hi Desert to be near his son, Robert,
and his family. The two, along with their wives, formed the Armstrong
Family Group which owns and operates both Del Taco franchise restaurants
in Yucca Valley. In 1999 the Family formed AFG Realty, Inc. and began a
business in the real estate field, owning and operating AFG Realty and
AAA Property Management. In 2004 they expanded the business to include
Crestmont Financial and Crestmont Escrow. Mr. Armstrong and his son,
Robert were business partners for over 25 years. In 2003 son Stephen
returned to the family business to complete Mr. Armstrong’s dream of a
family operated business. During his 12 years in Yucca Valley Mr.
Armstrong practiced law at his firm, Armstrong and Associates.
Mr. Armstrong believed in being active in his community. Over the years
Mr. Armstrong was active in the Boy Scouts (Board Member in Orange
County), Junior Achievement (Board Member in Orange County), First
California State University at Long Beach Board of Governors, Boys &
Girls Club of Yucca Valley Endowment Trust, Member, Board of Trustees,
Hospice of the Morongo Basin, Inc., Hi-Desert Medical Center Foundation
Board of Trustees, member of the noon time Rotary Club in Yucca Valley,
and legal counsel for Basin Wide Foundation. In addition to his time
contribution, there is hardly a group, organization, or foundation in
our area that has not been financially supported by the Armstrong Family
Group.
Mr. Armstrong was a life long student of history. His love of books,
reading, and studying was inspirational to those around him. He loved to
hunt and enjoyed the company of a good hunting dog. He enjoyed golf and
had been a member of the Mission Viejo Country Club and Big Canyon
Country Club. He loved to travel and had traveled globally. He loved
good food and dining out. He had a life time passion for movies and the
theater. Most of all he loved to spend time with his family.
Mr. Armstrong was born to Wayne Cleland and June Helen (Cannon)
Armstrong in Oak Park, Illinois on January 19, 1939. He has been married
to Deanna Ree Armstrong for almost 50 years. He was preceded in death by
son’s Duane and John. He leaves behind his beloved wife Deanna, three
sons; Wayne Wilson, Robert Lyle, Stephen Edward, two
daughters-in-law, Kolleen and Jeri. He also leaves his adored
grandchildren, Emily, Eleanor, Jacob, Hunter, and Nicholas. Mr.
Armstrong was a 54 year resident of California, and 12 year resident of
Yucca Valley.
|
