Armando Armas, age 70, of Atwater passed away in his home after a hard fought battle with cancer. We think he just got tired of the rehabilitation hospital and wanted some peace and quiet before going off to his maker. Armando was a man of few words and he used them as he did his wallet… sparingly; but when either got used… it mattered; he wasted neither.
He left us as he lived, quietly. Armando was born to Raul and Fernanda Armas in the city of Santa Cruz, Flores Island, Azores on October 25, 1947. He then immigrated with his family to the United States in 1960.
From his arrival in the United States to his graduation from high school, he always worked hard to help his family and be the best person he could. Armando proudly served our country in the Navy, during the Vietnam conflict and earned commendations for his work ethic. He was well liked and respected by his peers and was an exemplary seaman according to his enlisted classification record.
He was always proud of his service and when he found out he could have a hat with the name of his ship on it, he was sold. If he left the house, he was wearing one of those hats! After an honorable discharge from the Navy he did what people do, he got married and started a family.
He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather; while reserved in words, he showed it in actions. After faithfully working for Moore Business forms for nearly 25 years and Georgia Pacific for another 10, Armando finally decided it was time to take a break and he retired. In the years after retirement, he caught up on reading the newspaper, watching his westerns, helping with grandkids, and living life on his terms.
Armando came from a generation that did everything to the best of their ability. If he chose to do something he did it the best he could. If Bonanza was on, you better believe that Ben, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe Cartwright got his full attention.
When he wasn’t watching his westerns he was cursing the Giants and the Raiders for not playing as well as he thought they should (unfortunately it was usually the Raiders that got the tongue lashings). He also came from a generation that did not throw anything away, to this day we don’t know if he fixed things as a hobby or because he didn’t want to spend his hard earned social security money. He was a man that certainly got his two dollars worth at Pick-n-Pull.
Despite his wisecracks, and slapstick humor (The Three Stooges can be thanked for that) there was a deep streak of sincerity, homespun wisdom, as well as caring and kindness that touched, helped, and influenced, many people. If asked for help with something, he might have grumbled and cursed under his breath but he would be there for just about anyone. His smart-alec remarks and infectious laugh while trying to tell a story will be sorely missed.
Armando was preceded in death by his parents Raul and Fernanda Armas, his brothers Walter Armas, Tony Armas and Joe Armas and is survived by his wife of 43 years Alice Armas of Atwater; his daughter Angela Armas, her fiancé Chris Hurley, and their son Gavin; his son Allen Armas, his wife Becky and their children Lanee, Madison, and Darcee, his siblings Mary Resendes of Turlock, Natalia Cardoso of San Leandro, Alda Cordeiro of Hilmar and Arnold Armas of Turlock, as well as many nieces and nephews. We would like to extend our thanks to Stanford Health in Palo Alto, Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, Mercy Medical Center Merced, as well as Anberry Rehabilitation hospital for their compassionate and tenacious work in trying to cure and then later ensuring the comfort of a husband, a father, and a grandfather. Armando’s quiet and peaceful departure was made possible by many caring and capable hands, for that we thank you.
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