Herbert W Armstrong, biography and ancestry

1 Herbert W Armstrong

Herbert W Armstrong was born 31 Jul 1892 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa into a Quaker family.  He married 31 Jul 1917, on his birthday, to Loma Dillon, a schoolteacher.  They then went to live near Chicago.  While residents there, they had two children: Beverly Lucille in 1918 and Dorothy Jane in 1920.  Census entries state however, that these two girls were born in Iowa, so its possible that Loma while pregnant, went back to Iowa each time to give birth.  In 1924 they moved to Eugene, Oregon where his parents were then living.  There they had two more children: Richard David "Dick" (1928-1958) and Garner Ted (b. 1930).

Through his wife, he joined the Church of God Seventh Day, an offshoot of the Seventh Day Adventist movement.  He was an ordained minister in this group from 1931 to 1938.  He began a radio program in 1934, first called the "Radio Church of God", later the radio program was called the "World Tomorrow".  His broadcasts took off in popularity, and he moved to Pasadena, California where his enterprises expanded greatly.  By the later 1950s, his broadcasts were reaching international audiences.  Part of his popularity surely was his belief that Christ's return was imminent, a belief that is always sure to gather an audience.  He also at this time, began to teach that doctors were ineffective.  His magazine The Plain Truth, eventually reached a market of eight million readers.

When his eldest son Richard D Armstrong died 30 Jul 1958, Richard's obituary was published in the Star-News (Pasadena, CA) on 1 Aug.  It states that Richard was a resident of Sierra Madre, was born in Portland, he had been a resident of this area (Pasadena) for eleven years.  He was survived by his wife Lois, his son Richard David Armstrong, his parents Mr and Mrs Herbert W Armstrong, a brother Garner Ted Armstrong of Pasadena; two sisters, Mrs James A Gott of San Gabriel and Mrs Vern R Mattison of La Canada; his paternal grandmother Mrs Eva W Armstrong of San Gabriel; and his maternal grandfather, William A Dillon of Portland, Oregon.  He was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, Los Angeles County, California.

Herbert's wife Loma died 15 Apr 1967, and several months later his church the "Radio Church of God", was renamed the "Worldwide Church of God".  He also began a television program "The World Tomorrow" which eventually expanded to 382 US television stations.

His son Garner Ted Armstrong, was the prominent front-man for the operations (Richard having died in 1958), however in 1974 several ministers left the church when it was revealed that Herbert had concealed Garner Ted Armstrong's adultery for a number of years.  A year of internal crisis followed, many members bolted from the church, with some serious financial consequences: the Bricket Wood campus closed, the Imperial School closed, and "Plain Truth", which had been a glossy magazine, was reconstituted in a newspaper format.  Robert Kuhn called it, "...perhaps the most troubled year of our existence."  However, there were still 60,000 members of the church worldwide.  Until this revolt, the church had declared that persons who had divorced and then remarried were in an adulterous relationship and had to "put away" the new spouse.  This revolt was related to that issue.

It was later reported (in his obituary), that Herbert believed, in 1978, that Garner was trying to put him aside and take over the church.  Garner responded by publicly denouncing the church's lavish expenses.  Herbert then, in 1978, excommunicated Garner Ted from the church. Perhaps in retaliation, the state then launched an investigation into possible misuse of church funds.  That was halted when the California legislature outlawed civil investigations of church officials.  In Feb 1981, Stanley Rader states that a reconciliation may be imminent "if there is proper repentance".  Rader had stated shortly before, in an interview that he believed Jesus would return to Earth, before Herbert died.

Herbert W Armstrong died at his home in Pasadena 16 Jan 1986 and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, Los Angeles County, California with his wife Loma on one side, and his mother Eva Wright Armstrong on the other.  His son Richard is also buried in this same cemetery.  In the years following his death, his church was splintered and greatly reduced in size.  The internet has a large collection of material related to Herbert W Armstrong, both pro and con.  When Herbert died, his obituary was printed in the Orange County Register on 17 Jan., at the time it was claimed that Plain Truth then had a printing run of eight million.  Herbert had also written several books.  Garner is quoted there as stating that he tried for seven years to reconcile with his father, who would not see him.  Herbert was also survived by his two daughters, then stated to be, Beverly Gott, 67, of La Canada, and Dorothy Mattson, 65, of San Luis Obispo.  It is stated in Herbert's obituary, that his son Richard was killed in an automobile accident.  Armstrong was also survived by a sister Mary Edmundson, who was then living in Portland, in addition to ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren (not named).

[Edit]

Primary Sources for 1

• 1895 Iowa State Special Census, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, Herbert Armstrong, age 2, born Polk Co, Iowa; Mabel Armstrong, age 1, born Polk Co, Iowa
• 1900 US Federal Census, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, 1320 Norton Ave, Horace E Armstrong, Head, born Apr 1864, age 36, married eleven years ago, born Indiana/Ohio/Unknown, Salesman furnace?, Owns Home; Eva W, wife, born Apr 1866, age 34, married 11 years ago, mother of 3, 3 living, born Iowa/Ohio/Illinois; Herbert Armstrong, son, born Jul 1892, age 7, born Iowa; Mabel, daughter, born Sep 1894, age 5, born Iowa; Russell, son, born Jan 1900, age 4/12, born Iowa
• 1910 US Federal Census, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, 10 Adams St, Horace E Armstrong, Head, age 45, married first time, 22 years ago, born Indiana/OH/PA, occupation "Real Estate", rents home; Eva W, wife, 43, married first time, 22 years ago, mother of 5, 4 living, born Iowa/OH/IL; Herbert W, son, age 17, born Iowa; Russell M, son, age 10, born Iowa; Dwight L, son, age 5, born Iowa; Mary L, daughter, age 5 [evidently a twin], born Iowa; Mary A Wright, mother [but evidently mother-in-law], 72, widow, mother of 7, 5 living, born Illinois/NC/TN
• 1910 US Federal Census, Palmyra, Warren County, Iowa, William A Dillon, age 47, widower, born in Ohio, farmer; Loma, daughter, 18, single, born Iowa; Bertha, daughter, 16, single, born Iowa; Gilbert, son, 14, born Iowa; Walter, son, 10, born Iowa
• 1915 Iowa State Special Census, Loma Dillon, age 23, resident of Palmyra, Carlisle PO, Warren County, Iowa; Methodist, father born in Ohio, mother born in Iowa
• 1920 US Federal Census, Proviso, Cook County, Illinois, Herbert Armstrong, Head, rents home, age 28, born Iowa, occupation representative of a publishing house; Loma, wife, age 28, born Iowa; Beverly, daughter, age 1 6/12, born Iowa
• 1930 US Federal Census, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, 839 75th St North, Herbert W Armstrong, Head, rents home, $20 per month, age 37, married at age 25, born Iowa/Indiana/Iowa, occupation Newspaper Advertising; Loma E, wife, age 38, married at age 25, born Iowa/Ohio/Iowa; Beverly L, daughter, age 11, born Iowa; Dorothy J, daughter, age 9, born Iowa, Richard D, son, age 1 6/12, born Oregon; Garner T, son, age 2/12, born Oregon
• Polk's Eugene City and Lane County Directory 1936, Beverly Armstrong, student, rear 1608 6th Ave W; Herbert W Armstrong, Rev (Loma I), pastor The Church of God, home at 1608 6th Ave W.  A similar entry appears in 1938, but in 1939 he is called rev for the "Radio Church of God".  A similar entry appears in 1940, and 1941, but in 1942 he lists himself as "publisher". In 1947 he is back to "pastor Church of God"
• New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, arriving on the Queen Elizabeth, sailing from Southampton, arriving 21 Mar 1947, Herbert W Armstrong, age 54, born Des Moines, Iowa, 31 Jul 1892; Loma Armstrong, age 55, born Palmyra, Iowa, 16 Oct 1891, both residents of 308-310, 100 F Bldg, Eugene, Oregon
• New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, arriving on the Queen Elizabeth, sailing from Southampton, arriving 6 Oct 1954, Richard Armstrong, resident of 345 South Hill Ave, Pasadena, California, born in Oregon; Herbert Armstrong, resident of 363 Grove St, Pasadena, California, born in Iowa; Loma Armstrong, same residence, born in Iowa
• UK Incoming Passengers, arriving on the Queen Mary, 16 Apr 1956, Loma Armstrong, born 18.10.91, Housewife; Herbert Armstrong, born 31.7.92, Clergyman
• UK Incoming Passengers, arriving 14 Jun 1960, Herbert W Armstrong, born 7/31/92, Educator; Loma D Armstrong, born 10/18/91, Councellor
• "Loma D Armstrong", California Death Index, born 18 Oct 1891 Iowa, mother's maiden name Talboy, died 15 Apr 1967, Los Angeles County, California
• "Herbert W Armstrong", California Death Index, born 31 Jul 1892 Iowa, died 16 Jan 1986, Los Angeles County, mother's maiden name Wright
• "Herbert W Armstrong", findagrave.com

Secondary Sources for 1

• "Herbert W Armstrong", Wikipedia

• 1870 US Federal Census, Butlerville PO, Campbell Township, Jennings County, Indiana, 142/140, Nathan Armstrong, 33, RR Agent, born Ohio; Lydia H, 28, Keeping House, born Pennsylvania; Horace E, 6, born Indiana; Walter S, 3, born Indiana.  In next household, Elizabeth Armstrong, 67, Keeping House, born Pennsylvania; Alice, 32, Teaching School, born Ohio; Ruth A, 25, Teaching School, born Ohio; Emily, 19, At Home, born Ohio
• 1880 US Federal Census, Butlerville PO, Jennings County, Indiana, 47/56, Nathan Armstrong, 48, O&M RR Agt, born OH/DE/PA; Lidda H, 37, wife, Keeps House, born PA/VA/PA; Horse E, 16, son, born IN; Walter S, 13, son, born IN; Franklin, 5, son, born IN
• 1885 Iowa State Special Census, Allen, Warren County, Iowa, Nathan Armstrong, 49; Lydia H, 49; Horrace, 21; Walter, 18; Franklin, 10
• 1895 Iowa State Special Census, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, Horse E Armstrong, age 30, born Indiana
• 1900 US Federal Census, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, 1320 Norton Ave, Horace E Armstrong, Head, born Apr 1864, age 36, married eleven years ago, born Indiana/Ohio/Unknown, Salesman furnace?, Owns Home; Eva W, wife, born Apr 1866, age 34, married 11 years ago, mother of 3, 3 living, born Iowa/Ohio/Illinois; Herbert Armstrong, son, born Jul 1892, age 7, born Iowa; Mabel, daughter, born Sep 1894, age 5, born Iowa; Russell, son, born Jan 1900, age 4/12, born Iowa
• 1910 US Federal Census, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, 10 Adams St, Horace E Armstrong, Head, age 45, married first time, 22 years ago, born Indiana/OH/PA, occupation "Real Estate", rents home; Eva W, wife, 43, married first time, 22 years ago, mother of 5, 4 living, born Iowa/OH/IL; Herbert W, son, age 17, born Iowa; Russell M, son, age 10, born Iowa; Dwight L, son, age 5, born Iowa; Mary L, daughter, age 5 [evidently a twin], born Iowa; Mary A Wright, mother [but evidently mother-in-law], 72, widow, mother of 7, 5 living, born Illinois/NC/TN
• 1920 US Federal Census, Salem, Marion County, Oregon, 2446 Hazel Avenue, Horace E Armstrong, Head, Rents Home, age 53, married, born IN/IN/TN, Engineer, Heating Plant; Eva W, wife, age 53, married, born IA/OH/IL; Dwight L, son, 15, born IA; Mary L, daughter, 15, born IA
• 1930 US Federal Census, Salem, Marion County, Oregon, 1078 Highland Avenue, Horace E Armstrong, Head, Owns Home, age 65, married first at 21, born IN/IN/IN, Stationary Engineer at Deaf School; Eva W Armstrong, wife, age 63, married first at 21, born IA/OH/IL, no occupation
• "Herbert W Armstrong", California Death Index, born 31 Jul 1892 Iowa, died 16 Jan 1986, Los Angeles County, mother's maiden name Wright