Donald Edwin Armeni

Donald E. Armeni, 92, passed away on March 29, 2024 at Longview Hospice.

He was born June 22, 1931, in Seattle Washington to Don A. and Mary (Peterson/Lahti) Armeni. He attended Seattle schools, St. George's, O'Dea High and graduated from Cleveland High School. He moved to Longview in 1954 and to Kalama in 1965, where he resided until his passing.

Mr. Armeni started his communications career as a telegraph operator for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Oregon. He returned to Seattle and was employed by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph (CenturyLink) for 14 years and in 1965 began a career with Kalama Telephone Company, (Tenino Telephone/Scattercreek), retiring in 1994 as general manager. He remained with them as a part-time consultant where he continued with his dedication and interest in the telephone industry, and fully retired in 2014. He served two years in the U.S. Army as a communications technician at Fort Myers, Va.

He enjoyed many activities including golf, bowling, fishing, and photography, and he had a wealth of friends and family. He was active in the Kalama community and a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Kalama Lions Club, Kelso Elks, Telephone Pioneers and the Kalama Methodist Church. In 1967 he organized the Kalama Girls softball team and coached them for eight years. He received many awards, including Kalama Citizen of the Year, the Lions "Melvin Jones" award, Lions Lifetime Achievement award and the Washington Independent Telephone Association "President's Award" for his long tenure on the Engineering Committee.

He is survived by his three children, sons, Brian of Kelso, David of Kalama and daughter-in-law Kimberly, daughter Christine and son-in-law Clair Friskey of Hillsboro, Or., granddaughter, three great grandchildren, sister-in-law, Diane Armeni, Hansville, Wa., and her Family.

Don was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 52 years, Betty L. (Christensen) Armeni, who passed away in 2002 of Alzheimer's disease. They met in Seattle when they were 10 year old children and married after completing High School and shared many wonderful years with family and friends. His brothers Jim, Richard (Dick), and his parents and granddaughter Stacy Armeni, preceded him in death. The Don Armeni Boat Launch and public park on Elliot Bay in West Seattle is named after his father. In his retirement years he became reacquainted with High School classmate Patricia Sullican Rosenkranz, residing at Ocean Park, Wa. They shared 19 senior years together, traveling, visiting friends and enjoying time with their families. She passed away in 2021 in Vancouver Care Center.