John Franklin Armentrout Jr            April 17, 2023

A simple red bandana - always in his pocket - spoke a great deal about our father, husband, and grandfather. John Franklin Armentrout, Jr, who passed away on April 17, 2023, at the age of 83, was an old soul and a gentleman. The red bandana - his handkerchief - was always at the ready to wipe a tear or a runny nose (the latter usually at his young children’s objection).   But the image of him with the red bandana wrapped around his head was one of the first spoken of upon his passing. “Wild man,” as he was often adoringly called, was a name that described his joy and passion for life - a legacy that he has passed to all that loved him. 

The foundation of his love and joy was always his family.  He adored his infinitely talented wife, Cheryl Clausen Armentrout - a gifted vocalist, pianist, and all-around brilliant woman - who he believed had the voice of an angel. His whistling and singing were the foundation of his daughters, Caroline Deborah Armentrout Marrs, Roberta Lee Armentrout Johnson, and Joanna Lynn Armentrout Shapiro’s childhoods.  He also loved to sing along as his stepson, Benjamin David Clausen (who lives with his wife Melanie Blake), played “You Never Even Call me by My Name,” (even if he never did quite get all the words right). He also loved his Allentown family, dancing with the matriarch and singing with the sisters. 

John was raised in Washington, DC, with his father a carpenter, and his mother a school teacher, but much of his youth was spent on the family farm, Mountain View Farm, in Rapidan, Virginia. It was during his time there that cultivated his love of animals and hunting. He always had a faithful canine companion - from Streak to Creamer to Chester. An avid hunter, he initially dragged his older daughters, Caroline, and Roberta, with him but they later learned to embrace and love the sport (his youngest daughter, Joanna, was left behind because she talked too much).  But it was the love of equestrian sports - from fox hunting to hunt racing - that was a shared passion for him and his daughters. He loved the tradition and ceremony of fox hunting and many a weekend were spent on horseback (his daughters only occasionally wished it was a bit warmer during fox hunting season). 

John carried on a long Armentrout tradition to cook. He mastered the favored traditions (country ham, of course) but he later explored other genres and every gathering involved a feast. None of his family ever left empty-handed or with an empty stomach. Most importantly, he taught all of us to appreciate good food - from fine dining to enjoying the simplicity of an ice-cold Coca-Cola. His smoked salmon garnered legendary status among all his grandchildren - Franklin Theodore Marrs, Heather Ann Johnson, Taylor Lee Marrs, Jake Michael Johnson, Harrison Taylor Johnson, Chase Blue Shapiro, and Emma Cedar Shapiro.  Sadly, we will also mourn this favored treat because he never cooked with a recipe.

John earned a Bachelor’s degree from American University, but he followed in his father’s footsteps and forged a career in construction with a focus on historic preservation. Landmarks, including the Lyceum and Gatsby’s Tavern in Alexandria, Virginia, benefitted from his passion and expertise during the height of our nation’s bicentennial.  He committed countless hours working on the Asbury campus as a construction consultant later in his career and he adored many of the residents, employees, and contractors with whom he worked. John was always the source of advice for each of his sons-in-law, including Ted Marrs, James Johnson, and Kenny Shapiro - for every renovation project - from small upgrades to multi-million-dollar projects.   

John’s joy and love for life will forever be his legacy and be carried on by all that loved him. Here’s to it, John. If you cannot get to it, call me “cause I’m used to it.”   Your family will miss you more than you know. 

John will be interred at Waddell Memorial Presbyterian Church beside his mother and father during a graveside service with family. The family will receive guests at the Armentrout Home at Mountain View Farm (19422 River Road, Rapidan Virginia) on Friday, April 21, 2023, from Noon until 2 pm. The family requests that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation in lieu of flowers. Donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Preddy Funeral Home of Orange is assisting the family.