Venice High School Alumni
Los Angeles, California (CA)
In Memory of
Sally Jane Stragand
1950-2025
Born Sep 27, 1950, Sally Jane Stragand attended Venice High School in Los Angeles, CA.
Class of 1968
Sep 27, 1950 - Aug 11, 2025
Sep 27, 1950 - Aug 11, 2025
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of W68 Sally Jane Stragand Armstrong on Monday August 11, 2025 at the age of 74 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Sally passed away with family by her side after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to their favorite animal rescue.
She was residing at the Wakefield Manor apartment homes for seniors ages 55 years and older and living close by to her daughter, Jeanne. Her caring nature and warm spirit enriched all who knew her and she will be deeply missed.
Sally was born in September of 1950 to Thomas Giles Stragand and Genevieve Margarete Harshman in Muncie, Indiana, joining older siblings Gretchen and Tom.
In 1953 the family relocated to Venice, California from Indiana.
In May of 1960, Sally was attending Machado Elementary School where she along with many other familiar names, participated in the ‘Machado PTA Homemakers Fashion Show’: Karen Ogata, Mary Ellen and Robyn Hill, Danny and Billy Parrett, Janet and Sue Bredehoft, Sally Newland, and Debbie Bellina.
In July of 1960, the Stragand family took a summer camping trip vacation to Yosemite. Sally’s mother was the Health Chairman of the Machado Elementary School PTA.
In 1961, her older sister Gretchen Stragand, class of 1959, married Randall Parker at the Venice Baptist Church on Walgrove Avenue. Sally was one of her bridesmaids and her brother Tom was a groomsman. Tom graduated from Venice High that year.
The Stragand children grew up at 2477 Glyndon Avenue in Venice.
????????? In 1967, the Venice Marina Rotary Club held an award luncheon at the Pieces of Eight Restaurant in Marina del Rey. These were craft awards to Venice High School students, Sally won for drawing, and Steve Kitaoka (a senior at Venice) won the top prize, $100 for architectural drawing. Other winners were Bonnie Rychlak and Shari Adair for design.
???? Sally married James Douglas Armstrong on November 11, 1978 in Santa Barbara.
On March 8, 1981 a daughter, Jeanne Marie Armstrong was born in Santa Monica, California.
Sally was a Licensed Vocational Nurse.
Jim Armstrong passed away on December 1, 2009 in El Segundo, California. Jim served in Vietnam as a US Navy Cryptologic Technician. He had worked for the US Post Office in Los Angeles for twenty years. Jim was 63.
Sally was predeceased in death by both of her parents, father James in 1991, mother Genevieve in 2001 and her older sister Gretchen Parker of Simi Valley in 2015. Both of her parents and many other Stragand family members are laid to rest at the Dunkirk IOOF Cemetery also known as Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in Dunkirk, Blackford County, Indiana.
Sally is survived by her daughter, Jeanne Armstrong Drutton of Raleigh, North Carolina, husband Chris, two grandchildren, her brother Tom Stragand of Ohio, and many nieces and nephews.
In closing, I want to leave a message of hope and inspiration that I believe Sally would want us to hold onto. Even in the darkest of times, Sally always found a way to see the light and remain positive. Her resilience and optimism taught us that no matter what challenges we face, there is always hope for a brighter future. Let us carry this lesson with us as we continue our journey.
She was residing at the Wakefield Manor apartment homes for seniors ages 55 years and older and living close by to her daughter, Jeanne. Her caring nature and warm spirit enriched all who knew her and she will be deeply missed.
Sally was born in September of 1950 to Thomas Giles Stragand and Genevieve Margarete Harshman in Muncie, Indiana, joining older siblings Gretchen and Tom.
In 1953 the family relocated to Venice, California from Indiana.
In May of 1960, Sally was attending Machado Elementary School where she along with many other familiar names, participated in the ‘Machado PTA Homemakers Fashion Show’: Karen Ogata, Mary Ellen and Robyn Hill, Danny and Billy Parrett, Janet and Sue Bredehoft, Sally Newland, and Debbie Bellina.
In July of 1960, the Stragand family took a summer camping trip vacation to Yosemite. Sally’s mother was the Health Chairman of the Machado Elementary School PTA.
In 1961, her older sister Gretchen Stragand, class of 1959, married Randall Parker at the Venice Baptist Church on Walgrove Avenue. Sally was one of her bridesmaids and her brother Tom was a groomsman. Tom graduated from Venice High that year.
The Stragand children grew up at 2477 Glyndon Avenue in Venice.
????????? In 1967, the Venice Marina Rotary Club held an award luncheon at the Pieces of Eight Restaurant in Marina del Rey. These were craft awards to Venice High School students, Sally won for drawing, and Steve Kitaoka (a senior at Venice) won the top prize, $100 for architectural drawing. Other winners were Bonnie Rychlak and Shari Adair for design.
???? Sally married James Douglas Armstrong on November 11, 1978 in Santa Barbara.
On March 8, 1981 a daughter, Jeanne Marie Armstrong was born in Santa Monica, California.
Sally was a Licensed Vocational Nurse.
Jim Armstrong passed away on December 1, 2009 in El Segundo, California. Jim served in Vietnam as a US Navy Cryptologic Technician. He had worked for the US Post Office in Los Angeles for twenty years. Jim was 63.
Sally was predeceased in death by both of her parents, father James in 1991, mother Genevieve in 2001 and her older sister Gretchen Parker of Simi Valley in 2015. Both of her parents and many other Stragand family members are laid to rest at the Dunkirk IOOF Cemetery also known as Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in Dunkirk, Blackford County, Indiana.
Sally is survived by her daughter, Jeanne Armstrong Drutton of Raleigh, North Carolina, husband Chris, two grandchildren, her brother Tom Stragand of Ohio, and many nieces and nephews.
In closing, I want to leave a message of hope and inspiration that I believe Sally would want us to hold onto. Even in the darkest of times, Sally always found a way to see the light and remain positive. Her resilience and optimism taught us that no matter what challenges we face, there is always hope for a brighter future. Let us carry this lesson with us as we continue our journey.