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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Betty Ruth Ritterhoff Armstrong of Waco on April 3, 2011, |
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at the age of 92; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Chicago on October 10, 1918, the former |
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Betty Ritterhoff was the daughter of Henry and Edith Ritterhoff; |
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she attended schools in New York and Chicago, where she met her |
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future husband, Edward LaVerne Armstrong; the couple married in |
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Wollaston, Massachusetts, on August 31, 1940, and later became the |
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parents of two children, James and Richard; they moved to |
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Weatherford in 1951; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Armstrong was employed for 30 years as |
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secretary of Grace First Presbyterian Church, where she became an |
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ordained elder; she served as president of Presbyterian Women and |
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was presented with a life membership; in addition, she led Circle |
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Bible Studies, taught Sunday school, and visited the homebound and |
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residents of nursing homes; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to her community, Mrs. Armstrong |
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was a member and officer of the PTA and chaired the committee that |
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developed a public library for children; later, she helped organize |
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the Friends of the Weatherford Library and served as membership |
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chair; she became one of the first volunteers for Meals on Wheels, |
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serving a regular weekly route for many years; and |
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WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, Mrs. Armstrong played a key role |
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in the establishment of Manna Storehouse, Inc., a nonprofit food |
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pantry and supply house; she was a strong advocate and active |
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volunteer for the organization, assisting clients and serving the |
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board as corresponding secretary; in her nineties she moved to Waco |
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and continued to volunteer in the community as her health |
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permitted; and |
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WHEREAS, The numerous accolades granted Mrs. Armstrong |
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include the 1998 Governor's Volunteer Award; she was recognized as |
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one of President George H. W. Bush's "Thousand Points of Light" and |
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was named Outstanding Woman of the Southwest by the Presbyterian |
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Women of Grace First Presbyterian; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Armstrong enjoyed traveling with her husband in |
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their retirement years and camping and fishing both in Texas and |
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around the country; she was gifted at needlework and even more |
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talented in crocheting afghans; and |
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WHEREAS, Betty Armstrong expressed her faith by helping |
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others with tireless dedication, and she made a lasting, positive |
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difference in her community; although she will be deeply missed by |
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those she leaves behind, they will forever remember her kindness |
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and devotion; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Betty Ruth Ritterhoff |
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Armstrong and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: |
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to her sons, Jim Armstrong and his wife, Patricia, and Dick |
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Armstrong and his wife, Jessica; to her grandchildren, Katherine |
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Armstrong and her partner, Kiki, Jennifer Stetler, Stacy Armstrong, |
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Alana Armstrong, Christopher Armstrong and his wife, Beth, Brian |
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Armstrong and his wife, Tori, Matthew Armstrong, Jonathan |
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Armstrong, and Luke Armstrong; to her great-grandchildren, |
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Michael, Hunter, and William Armstrong and Abigayle and Joe |
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Stetler; and to her other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Betty Ruth |
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Ritterhoff Armstrong. |
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Anderson of McLennan |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1939 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 19, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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