Louise O. Armstrong

Newport, RI - Louise O. Hatmaker Allen Armstrong, 94, died peacefully at home on December 5.She was born in Newport in 1917; her familys home was on Bateman Avenue in the Fifth War. Later, she resided for more than 30 years on Thurston Avenue and was a congregant of Emmanuel Church on Dearborn Street. Her home for the last four years was on Deblois Street.Louise worked for 25 years as a clerk for Johnson Brothers, an oil company on Commercial Wharf, and stayed with the company five more years after it was acquired by Newport Oil Company, which ultimately became Newport Harbor Corporation. She also worked at The Moorings restaurant, where she checked hats and coats. Her first husband, Bill Allen brother of the late Dr. Cy Allen, a Middletown veterinarian, was a farmer. Her second husband, Bill Armstrong, was a bartender at the Cliff Walk Manor, now the Chanler. Louise herself was partial to the Canfield House, where she and Mr. Armstrong celebrated their honeymoon. She leaves her sister-in-law Sandra Allen of Middletown; daughter-in-law Doris Allen of Newburyport, MA; step-son Ronald Armstrong and his wife Joan of Norfolk, VA; and step-daughter Susan Lockhart of Durham, NC. Louise was pre-deceased by her first husband, William J. Allen who died in 1948, her second husband, William J. Armstrong to whom she was married for nearly 50 years, and her son James Allen.Louise was in good spirits for her 94th birthday on November, 27, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, just over a week before she died. Her engaging nature, can-do attitude, sharp wit, conversational style and smile will be remembered by many in the community as well as by those who visited her when delivering Meals on Wheals or during weekly visits orchestrated by Child and Family Services. Donations in Louises memory may be made to Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties/Hospice and Palliative Care, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.A graveside memorial service led by Reverend George Chaplin will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, December 10, at Middletown Cemetery, at the corner of Wyatt and Turner Roads.