Matthew F. Armstrong started in the funeral business in Fergus, Ontario around 1898. He operated a furniture store in the front of the shop and built coffins in the rear. All funerals in those days where conducted in the family home. When a death occurred Matthew would hitch up his team of black horses to the wagon and travel to the deceased’s home. There he would prepare the body, place it in a coffin and set the remains up in the parlour for visitation and funeral service.
In 1914, he left Fergus and moved to Belleville, Ontario where he and a partner started the Imlaw-Armstrong Undertakers. Matthew arrived in Oshawa in 1930 and on June 1st of that year bought the Disney Funeral Home. It was at this time that he asked his son Army to join him in the family business.
As owner/operator of Armstrong’s, Army served his community well both professionally and with his volunteer work. He was president of the Children’s Aid Society and was a member of the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club where he served as their president in 1963. He was also a member and served as the president of the Oshawa Curling Club and the Oshawa Tennis Club.
A long-standing member of the Oshawa Rotary Club, he received the 45 years service award. One form of recognition of Army’s oustanding community contributions came in 1992 when he was inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame as a builder, tennis player and hockey referee.
