Virginia Collins Armstrong, a Malibu resident since 1950, died peacefully on April 25. She was 94 years old.
Armstrong was born May 3, 1918, in Orange, Calif., and grew up on a citrus and avocado ranch in Villa Park. The daughter of Frank Hardy Collins and Vida Morrison Collins, she was the oldest of four children, with siblings Betty Nichols, Frank Collins, Jr. and Dorothy Claypool. The family was good friends with the Walter Knott family, of Knott’s Berry Farm, with whom they shared many enjoyable dinners.
Armstrong attended UCLA and spent many weekends back at the family ranch. She met her future husband, Bill Armstrong, in a geology class at the university. The couple was married on New Year’s Eve 1938. During their first few years of marriage, the Armstrongs lived in Brentwood, but their love of the ocean drew them to Malibu, where they lived since 1950.
Armstrong loved spending time with her children, Lea, Alan and Lani. She also loved the variety of abandoned and injured animals they brought home, including seals, sea lions, sea gulls, hawks, mina birds rabbits, chickens, dogs and deer. This resulted in the family home resembling a neighborhood petting zoo, a highlight for local children to visit.
Armstrong’s love of children led her to start Carden Malibu School, a private school in Las Flores Canyon, where she was principal for 35 years. Armstrong believed in providing a classical American education with traditional school activities. She enjoyed keeping in contact with her former students over the years.
Armstrong is survived by her husband, Bill; daughters Lani Netter and Lea Anderson; son Alan Armstrong; grandchildren, Ryan and Tor Anderson, Brian Armstrong and Sunshine Silverston, and Jake and Grace Netter; and great-grandchildren, Ben, Sam, Joe, Rachel, Josh and Megan Anderson and Victoria Silverston.
A graveside service will take place Thurs., May 2 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica at 2 p.m. and a memorial service and celebration of life will take place Fri., May 3 at Godmother of Malibu at 1 p.m.