Dr. Lewis R. "Doc" Armstrong, 100, of Liberal, passed away Thursday, Oct, 2, 2025 at the Liberal Good Samaritan Nursing Home.
He was born Sept. 6, 1925 in Liberal as the fifth of six children born to Harry and Ethel Armstrong.
Lewis left high school at age 17 to serve his country in the Army (Air Force). After completing his training, he served as a tail- gunner on a B-24 in the Fifth Air Force serving in the Pacific. Upon completion of his service he returned to Liberal to finish high school. He continued his education at Oklahoma State College in Stillwater, Okla. and Emporia State Teachers College in Emporia, where he met his future wife, Vivian. They married in 1948.
He completed his Doctor of Optometry at Northern Illinois College of Optometry (now known as Illinois College of Optometry) while Vivian worked to support his studies. When he set out to begin his practice as an optometrist he chose to return to Liberal. Vivian and Lewis had two children, Bettina and Brad, and lived in the same house for the rest of their lives. Vivian was a well-loved member of the local community and passed away in 2022.
Lewis loved learning and had many hobbies throughout his life. He operated a ham radio starting at age 16 and continued this through most of his life. He traveled the country to go to ham radio events and had a portable radio and antenna in his van so that he could use it while he traveled.
He spent many years building and refurbishing small aircraft from his own hangar at the Liberal airport. He completely built an experimental aircraft that is now housed at the Mid-American Air Museum in Liberal. For many years he traveled to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) convention in Oshkosh, Wisc. These trips were a highlight of the year for him.
In the early 1960 he decided to learn to paint and set up an art studio in his basement. Initially he worked in oil paints, but watercolor became his preferred medium. He exhibited his work throughout the community and studied with many different teachers. He was honored to have a retrospective of his watercolors at the Mid-America Air Museum late in his life.
When he retired from optometry at age 65, he began seriously studying math in hopes of completing an education in electrical engineering. He was unable to finish this goal, but it is indicative of his desire to continue learning. He traveled all over the country in his van to visit family, attend radio, airplane, or art events.
Lewis was able to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington DC in 2010. For five years he volunteered to drive veterans to the Veterans Hospital in Amarillo, Texas. He also served as a member of the American Legion Post No. 80 in Liberal.
He is survived by his son, Brad Armstrong; daughter, Bettina Armstrong and son-in-law, Claude Rosenthal; granddaughter, Julia Rosenthal; grandson, Alex Armstrong Rosenthal and wife Mari Gilmore; and great-grandchild, Petra Rosenthal.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ernest Armstrong; and four sisters: Virginia Overholt, Jean Rochel, Claudine Riney, and Mary Alice Scates.
• A Celebration of Life service celebrating the lives of Doc and Vivian Armstrong took place Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 at the Miller Mortuary Chapel in Liberal, with Pastor Chuck Scroggs officiating.
Burial will be at the Liberal City Cemetery with military honors provided by The American Legion Post 80.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Liberal Good Samaritan Society or the Liberal Mid-America Air Museum in care of Miller Mortuary PO Box 826 Liberal, KS 67905.
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