Peacefully at Kemptville District Hospital on June 3, 2026, Kenneth Armstrong, aged 87, of Kemptville, passed away in the presence of family. He was the beloved husband of the late Margaret “Sylvia” (née Adams). Kenneth was the son of the late Jared and Laura Armstrong and brother to the late Keith (Ruth), Don (Lera) and Bernard. A devoted father, he leaves behind his children: Jeff (Cyndi) of Orleans, Tom Armstrong of Conestogo, and Bill (late Margaret) Armstrong of Ottawa. The most loving and supportive grandfather, he will be deeply missed by his cherished grandchildren: Emily and Katie of Orleans, and Brooke and Hailey of Alma. Ken was born and raised on his family farm on Oxford Mills Road and, when he married, he built a home on the land, where he and Sylvia raised their family. He worked for a time at Moore Business Forms as a typesetter until he was offered a position at the Vet Lab at Kemptville College, where he worked for 26 years. Retiring at the age of 55, Ken could not sit still for long. He worked at KBC for a few years and kept busy doing odd jobs for friends and neighbours. Ken was always puttering around in his vegetable garden and yard. Eventually, needing more space for his ongoing projects and hobbies, he built an extension for his woodshop in the back of his garage, where he loved to work on his wood carvings and built beautiful furniture. Humble, quiet, and yet endlessly witty, he was quick with a turn of phrase and had a way of making people laugh that was rare and precious. He was an endless well of knowledge on all things regarding Kemptville (and every back road that leads to and from it), carpentry, nature, farming, and a wide array of other topics, and had such a way with words. His stories, and his laughter, will be cherished by many.
By Ken’s request Cremation has taken place. A Private Graveside Service will be held at the Oxford Mills Anglican Cemetery.
By family request donations may be made in Memory of Ken to the Kemptville District Home Support, Kemptville Salvation Army, Kidney Foundation of Canada or Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Arrangements entrusted to the Byers Funeral Home, South Mountain, (613-989-3836). Online condolences may be made at www.byersfuneralhomeinc.ca
3 Condolences for John Kenneth Armstrong
Condolences(3)
Emily Armstrong says
June 6, 2026 at 11:50 pmWhen I was little, my favourite thing about you was your hugs. No one gives a bear hug like my Grandpa, and I loved the way you’d crouch down and scoop me up the second that you saw me. My gentle giant. When I was in school, my favourite thing about you was how supportive and caring you were. Our constant emails back and forth as I updated you and Grandma on my classes and soccer are now cherished letters I hold dear, as evidence of how clearly and entirely you loved me and Katie. Your unflinching belief in our ability to achieve anything we set our minds to is now a pillar of strength I lean on now more than ever. And in recent years, I’ve struggled to sum up what my favourite thing about you is into one neat sentence: your humility, your humour, your talent, the ease at which you could think up a witty retort or a clever solution, the deep timbre and specific intonation of your voice, the stories you told, and the way you could recall and tell things with such perfect and specific detail. Driving around with you and hearing all the history you had memorized and all the people you knew. You painted such vivid pictures of your life with your words, and I told you often that you were like a walking, talking encyclopedia. Stories of the farm, and your brothers, and dad and his brothers, and Grandma I was always greedy for. The fact that you built a house and a garage and a workshop and a shed and a cradle for me and one for my doll and tables and instruments and countless other beautiful things and you shrugged it all off like it was no big deal, when I always thought it was the coolest and most impressive thing in the world. The sweet tooth you’ve passed on to me, and the green thumb I’m learning to emulate. Your expressive face, and twinkly eyes, and the way I felt little again whenever I held your big hands. And the way you sheltered me and Katie from curse words and hard phone calls and bad news, and let us stay little in your company, even when we grew up. It was a rare and safe feeling I cherished more the older I got. I’d say you were born to be a Grandpa, but you were actually just good at everything you set your mind to—loving your family being top of that list. I’m so lucky to be your granddaughter. And I’m lucky to have known you, and to love you. I went through my weeks noting all the things I couldn’t wait to tell you about on Sundays. There will be so many things I know I’ll wish I could tell you, and ask you, in all the Sundays to come. But I hope you know how hard I was listening to everything you told us too. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to tell your stories as well as you did, but I know I’ll never come close. Even still, everyone who gets to know me will know you too. Until our next Sunday, I love you. See you around, Grandpa. Be good 🤍
Harold Williamson says
June 14, 2026 at 2:09 pmJeffrey, Tom and Bill and Families. We were saddened to hear of your Dad’s passing. Please accept condolences from the Williamson family from up the road.
Mark Alexander says
June 17, 2026 at 9:17 pmMy condolences to the Armstrong family. Sorry I missed this notice. He was a dedicated Orangemen for many years and was well respected by many members.