Merle C. Armstrong, 81, of rural Flat Rock, IL

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Merle C. Armstrong, 81, of rural Flat Rock, Illinois, died Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana. Merle was born December 9, 1934, in Allendale, Illinois, the son of John and Frances (Loudermilk) Armstrong. He married Karen Smith on April 30, 1982, and she survives.

Merle retired from LTV Steel after 30 years of service. He also worked for Purdue Farms for 10 years and K-Mart for 19 years. Merle served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the Birds Free Methodist Church, Loan Officer with Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, and a member of the American Legion and VFW in northern Indiana.  He enjoyed woodworking, working in his yard, fishing, and coaching Little League baseball.

Survivors include: his wife, Karen; two sons, Bob and Diane Armstrong of Charlotte, North Carolina and Michael and Shelby Armstrong of Fairbanks, Alaska; five daughters, Sandy and Ken Shutts of Bridgeport, Nebraska, Patty Shebish of Merrillville, Indiana, Sheila and John Correll of Bridgeport, Illinois, Penny and Frank Correll of Sumner, Illinois, Sammi and Jim Byers of Vincennes, Indiana; three step-sons, Gary Ford of rural Lawrenceville, Illinois, Doug and Tanya Ford of Flat Rock, Illinois, Dennis and Kathy Ford of California; one sister, Wanda and Cletus Laslie of Bridgeport, Illinois; 19 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents, one brother John, three sisters Joann Fields, Mary Cardinal, Sarah Valdez, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be Friday at 2 PM at the Birds Free Methodist Church located in Birds, Illinois.

Visitation will be Thursday evening from 4 to 8 PM at the Emmons-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home in Lawrenceville.

Burial will be in Derr Cemetery east of Pinkstaff, Illinois.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Good Samaritan Hospice, Alzheimer’s Association or to the Birds Free Methodist Church.