E.F. Armstrong

E.F. “Army” Armstrong, the creator of the finest residential flower garden in southern Arizona, passed away quietly last week at the age of 91. He was one of Fountain Hills’ longest year-round retirees, having lived here since 1972.

Army was a sterling example of a renaissance man who examined life to the full. He served for 10 years in the U.S. State Department with postings in Germany and Iran before leaving government service in 1954 to move to Aspen, Colorado. There, together with his wife Sara, they established and operated “The Copper Kettle” which Time magazine often included in its “America’s Top Ten Restaurants” for two decades.

It was in Aspen that Army began puttering in his garden. His efforts on a southern mountainside in that ski resort town were rewarded with features in national horticulture magazines.

With his retirement, he was able to devote even more time to what became his passion. The well-known field of flowers on the citrus-dotted arroyo on Ocotillo Drive was the result of his efforts.

After his wife Sara passed away, Army moved to a smaller residence on Golden Eagle Blvd. There, in the back of his home, he developed and tended into his 90’s the finest domestic flower garden in southern Arizona today.

In addition to his gardens, Army left his mark on the landscape in other ways. He was a fervent reader, especially of detective fiction, and became a strong advocate of literacy programs. For a number of years he served as the Head of his county’s Library Board.

Army, as a result of the success of the Copper Kettle, was also quietly a major patron of the Aspen Summer Music Festival in its early years. In the 1970’s the Armstrongs’ Fountain Hills home became a vacation stop-over for innumerable Aspen “glitterati.” Sara and Army, between her culinary skills and his wine cellar became renowned here for their frequent dinner gatherings with their intriguing array of guests.

Early in the 1980’s one of their Ocotillo Drive dinners entered local legend. Army and Sara were entertaining Leonard Bernstein, who had written his first two classical works for Sara’s (nee Kruskall) amateur group “The Madison Trio.” The noted composer nearly passed out at the table when he developed an allergic reaction to the Armstrongs’ unmentioned pet felines.

Army was born in Kansas in 1917 and graduated from the University of Kansas Phi Beta Kappa. He was stationed as a naval attaché in Panama during World War II. His State Department postings continued with a stint in Germany in the immediate post-war years. It was there at the Nuremburg Trials, where he served as the chief of State Department support personnel for those Trials, that Army met his wife Sara, a WAC captain, who played the opposite role for the U.S. Army of Occupation.

For years Armstrong gadded about town here wearing colorful attire in his 1972 Ford Bronco. He was known in Fountain Hills for his party hijinks and wry wit. At his 90th birthday celebration last year, presented with a gift of glaringly yellow trousers, he donned them right in front of his many guests without skipping a beat. Army will be truly missed by his many friends here.

He leaves his dear nephew, Stephen Kruskall MD, of Dover, Mass., and many local friends including Pat Rimestead and Lois Ehrsam.

Memorial services will be held in private. Donations in Army’s memory should be made to the Fountain Hills Library.

Patricia R. Riley

Patricia Elizabeth Riley, 77, of Mount Dora, Fla., passed away peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 of complications due to Parkinson's disease.

She was born Nov. 9, 1931 in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Eli and Adelaide Decker Alexander.

Pat graduated from University of Northern Iowa with a degree in physical education.

She married Donald Eugene Riley on March 14, 1952.  They were together for 56 years.

Pat traveled extensively.  She was skilled at needlecrafts and enjoyed antiquing and discussing politics with her “Cronies.”

Pat taught elementary and physical education. She remained involved in education through the PTA, the libraries and coaching sports while she raised her girls.  She was passionate about Girl Scouting, was a leader and camped with her daughters' troops.

Pat is survived by her husband; daughters Ann Riley-Gawura (John) of Dewitt, Mich.; Susan Jesse (David) of Orlando, Fla.; and Sally Bennett (David) of Concord, N. C.  She is also survived by grandchildren; Katherine, Kristin, Nicholas, Allison, Elizabeth, Jessica and Abigail.

Pat was preceded in death by sisters Dorothy Palmer, Jackie Chappelle, Louise Ceglar and Helen (Mickey) Davis.

Memorial services were held in Mount Dora on Sunday, Nov. 16.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Girl Scout Hornet's Nest Council, 7007 Idlewood, Charlotte, NC 28212 (www.hngirlscouts.org) or Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Rd, Tavares, FL 32778 (www.cornerstonehospice.org) in Pat's memory.

Arrangements are by Allen J. Harden Funeral Home, Mount Dora, Fla.