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Vada Voncille Armstrong

November 18, 1941 ~ June 19, 2012
June 23, 2012
Vada Voncille Armstrong (nee Jones) passed away June 19, 2012, near her home in Bonners Ferry from a stroke and Alzheimer's Disease. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at the White Salmon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association; http://www.alz.org.

Von was born November 18, 1941, in Elk City, Oklahoma, to William and Claudia Jones. When she was seven, the family moved to White Salmon, Washington.

She attended school in White Salmon, graduating from Columbia High School in 1959. During her senior year of  high school, she began a work/study program with Pacific Northwest Bell. Part of her school day was spent plugging the cords into the switchboard, making long distance calls for patrons, and blowing the noon whistle, which was a toggle switch on the side of the switchboard.

When a fire was called in, there were two whistles and the switchboard would light up with calls from people wanting to know where the fire was. After graduation, she worked full time at the telephone company. Later, she worked for the White Salmon School District until her retirement in 2004.

During her freshman year, she met the love of her life, Ron Armstrong. They married March 18, 1961, and had a son, Kevin, and a daughter, Karen. After retiring, Ron and Von moved to Moyie Springs to enjoy the outdoors and square dancing. She loved to laugh and spend time with her family and many friends.

She is survived by her best friend and husband of 51 years, Ron; son, Kevin and his wife Tina; grandchildren, Mara and Matt of White Salmon; daughter, Karen and her family. She is also survived by three sisters, Virginia Rabern-Hall of Beaverton, Oregon; Nancy Walker of Snohomish, Washington; and Ellen Hansen of Goldendale, Washington.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Claudia Jones; sister Lorene Forney; and brother Cliff Jones.

Family and friends are invited to sign Von’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.