Biography:

Joseph Roger Armbrust (“Roger”) died at home on Sunday, December 14, 2025. He was 82 years old. Roger was born to Wilbur and Frances Armbrust in Little Rock, AR on July 25, 1943.  He leaves behind his beloved daughter, Catherine Armbrust of Columbia, Missouri, his brother Dr. Frank Armbrust & sister-in-law Kay Armbrust (and progeny) of Yuba City, CA, followers of his poetry blog, The Sonneteer, and many mentees & friends in the Cosmopolitan AA group. Roger grew up in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock and attended Catholic High School for Boys, where he made friendships that have endured. Roger played basketball at Catholic High and intercollegiate basketball for UALR and Arkansas State University. After graduation, Roger wrote sports & political news for Little Rock newspapers before joining the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce in public relations. 

Roger was an author, poet, editor, journalist, mentor, art lover, blogger, and champion of democracy. During the 1980s and 90s, he lived in New York City, where he served as national news editor of Backstage Magazine and taught writing at New York University in the evenings. His poetry and novels were published by Parkhurst Brothers Publishers and distributed nationally.  

A memorial is scheduled at Ruebel Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 (his late mother’s birthday) from 4-6pm. Visitation will be from 4-5pm & Storytelling/Remembrance from 5-6pm in the chapel. Please bring your stories to share. 

In lieu of flowers, his daughter Catherine asks that you honor Roger by donating to COMO Mobile Aid Collective, the nonprofit she helps run that Roger constantly championed.  https://mtyc.co/5lsh0f