Sad passing of much-loved Tyrone funeral director Robert Armstrong

MOURNERS from across Tyrone and beyond gathered to pay their final respects to a much-loved Dromore man whose kindness, compassion and quiet dedication to others touched countless lives.

Robert Armstrong, late of Kildrum Road, Dromore, died peacefully at the South West Acute Hospital last Friday, aged 72, leaving behind a legacy of friendship, generosity and a lifetime of service to his community.

A highly respected funeral director, Mr Armstrong built a successful family business serving Dromore, Omagh, Castlederg and surrounding districts, earning the trust and gratitude of generations of local families.

His funeral took place at Holy Trinity Church, Dromore, on Sunday, where Rev Bill Boyce delivered a heartfelt tribute to a man who had spent so much of his life caring for others, often at their most vulnerable.

The scale of the affection in which Mr Armstrong was held was evident in the large numbers who attended his funeral, while callers from across Tyrone and further afield had also visited Armstrong’s Funeral Home in Omagh to offer their condolences.

In his tribute, Rev Boyce spoke of a man whose work was never simply a business, but a vocation rooted in genuine compassion and a desire to ease the burden on grieving families.

“I soon learned that if you wanted something done right locally when it came to funeral services, you called Robert,” he said.

“It became a way of life for him. He genuinely enjoyed helping families at some of the most difficult times in their lives.

“I would often see him at funerals simply place his hand on someone’s shoulder, which always meant so much to people at a time when they needed some comfort.”

Describing him as a kind and sensible man, the minister said Robert had an exceptional knowledge of people and had made countless friends through his work and his love of bowling.

“He was a kind and sensible person and, above all else, a family man who was always willing to lend a hand to a friend, neighbour or anyone who needed it,” he said.

Rev Boyce added that, as he got to know Mr Armstrong, he came to recognise a man who instinctively took responsibility for looking after those around him.

“As I got to know Robert, I realised he was a fixer. He took care of things and spent his energy ensuring the people around him were cared for. It was his way of saying, ‘I love you’, without having to say a word.”

Born and raised in Dromore, Robert grew up on the family farm with his four siblings, William, Sarah, Albert and Joy.

He initially worked as a mechanic before establishing his own business in the monumental trade, working alongside his brother Albert for more than 20 years to create headstones and memorials for families remembering loved ones.

It was a natural progression for a man who would go on to dedicate much of his working life to helping people honour those they had lost.

With the assistance of his son Derek, he later expanded into funeral directing, developing a successful business which became a trusted source of support for families throughout the area.

His two sons-in-law, Ivan and Jonny, also joined him in the family trade, helping to extend the business through funeral homes in Omagh and Castlederg.

However, behind the businessman and respected funeral director was, above all, a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Rev Boyce spoke particularly warmly about Robert's marriage to his late wife Wilma, describing their life together and the loving home they built while raising their family.

He also recalled the quiet devotion Robert showed when Wilma became ill.

“When Wilma fell ill, Robert, in his unassuming and quiet way, took care of her and looked after her needs. He did not make a fuss; he simply carried on, showing his love for her.”

Wilma died in 2020, a loss which Robert found deeply difficult to bear.

In the years that followed, he became particularly close to his sister and found enormous happiness in spending time with his seven grandchildren, who, the minister said, “meant the world to him”.

He shared a special relationship with each of them, and his family remained at the very centre of his life.

Following the service of thanksgiving at Holy Trinity Church, Mr Armstrong was laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard.

He is survived by his children Derek (Lyndsey), Heather (Ivan) and Wendy (Jonny); grandchildren Robbie, Lexi, Ollie, Isaac, Sienna, Seth and Sadie; and siblings William, Sarah, Albert and Joy.

Family flowers were requested, with donations in lieu, if desired, to Holy Trinity Church, Dromore.

As the large gathering at his funeral demonstrated, Robert Armstrong will be remembered not only for the business he built, but for the many lives he touched, the comfort he offered and the countless acts of kindness which defined him.

For a man who spent so many years helping others say their final goodbyes, the tributes paid to him were a poignant reflection of the deep affection and respect he had earned throughout his own life.