Longtime Skagit Valley College tennis coach and former Western Washington University women's field hockey coach Joan Armstrong died on Tuesday, Aug. 5 after battling cancer for several years. She was 71.

Armstrong, who coached thousands of athletes over the years in several sports, served as WWU's field hockey coach from 1976 to 1980. She helped the team to a runner-up finish at the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Region 9 meet in 1979.

She was most well known for her contributions to tennis throughout the state, most particularly in Skagit County where she coached for the better part of 40 years. The tennis complex at Skagit Valley College was recently named in her honor.

Armstrong spent the last three seasons as an assistant tennis coach for the Sehome High School boys' and girls' tennis teams, and despite her declining health, was on hand to help coach Sehome's boys' team at the state tennis tournament in May.

"She knew everything there was to know about tennis," Sehome coach Bonna Giller said in a phone interview. "She was so well respected by the kids. She was the most patient person I have even known."

Armstrong's passion for tennis and coaching never wavered even as her health waned. Last week she helped coach a tennis camp at WWU and told Giller recently she was looking forward to working with the boys' team this fall. The Mariners are dedicating this season to her memory.

"Right until the very end she was all about tennis," Giller said. "She was just tough as nails."

A vigil will be held for Armstrong at Sacred Heart Church in Bellingham on Friday, Aug. 8 at 9 p.m. Mass will be held for her on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m.

Reach Joe Sunnen at joe.sunnen@bellinghamherald.com or 756-2862