William Armstrong
May 13, 1922 — November 18, 2016
William Joseph Armstrong, Jr., 94, a retired U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer and Antique Dealer in New Market, MD, died Friday, November 18, 2016 at Frederick Memorial Hospital. His wife, Jane Philbrick Armstrong, predeceased him April 23, 2007, after 56 years of marriage.
Born May 13, 1922, in Philadelphia, PA, the son of William Joseph and Anna Costello Armstrong, he was raised there and graduated from La Salle College High School. During World War II he served with the 20th Air Force on Guam as a B-29 mechanic. He also attended Brigham Young University in the Army Specialized Training Program.
After his discharge he finished college at UCLA with a BS degree in Industrial Management.
When the Korean War began, Mr. Armstrong was working in Seattle and was recalled to active duty as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Subsequently, he was assigned to intelligence duties in the U.S. Air Force Security Service, specializing in the Soviet Union and the Russian language. He studied at Syracuse and Columbia Universities and the U.S. Army Russian Institute at Oberammergau, Germany. He served overseas tours in Alaska and Germany. At the time he retired from active duty as a Major, he was assigned to the National Security Agency.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1968; he joined his wife in the antiques business in New Market, Comus Antiques, specializing in brass and copper refinishing. Mr. Armstrong was active in civic affairs including Christmas in New Market and New Market Days. He was a long time chairman of the New Market Historic District Commission and was in charge of publicity for the New Market Antique Dealers Association for many years.
He was a member of the Rotary Club of Frederick, the American Legion and VFW, the Order of Daedalions, Royal Air Force, London, and Frederick Cotillion. He was a Tennessee Squire.
He leaves two daughters, Carol Green and husband Dennis, of Ijamsville, Nancy Musser and husband Jonathan of Falls Church, VA, two sons, William J. III, and wife, Dr. Pamela of Damascus, and Robert P. and wife Iva, of Frederick, twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, where a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rotary Club of Frederick, P.O. Box 13, Frederick, MD 21705; or New Market Cemetery Company, P.O. Box 78, New Market, MD 21774, Attn: Treasurer.