William Roger Armstrong

Will was born on February 9, 1942 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Growing up in Ypsilanti, Michigan, he excelled in music, playing the clarinet and piano, and serving as the drum major for the Roosevelt High School Marching Band. He attended Interlochen Arts Academy and later graduated from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester where he majored in clarinet and minored in piano. Will was a lifelong lover of music, directing musicals, singing bass in his church choir, and playing the guitar and piano for his friends and family. He infused a love of music in his children and grandchildren, who collectively have played the violin, cello, saxophone, piano, guitar and about any other instrument they can get their hands on.

Recognizing that his early aspiration to be first chair clarinetist in the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra would be a long, hard road, Will instead opted to take the “easier” route and go to medical school. His parents scraped and saved to provide opportunities like this for him, ones that they never had. Will graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1969 and then took an internship at Philadelphia General Hospital, where he met and fell in love with Gail Greenmeyer. The couple married at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philly in 1970, and then started their family in Ann Arbor where Will completed his residency in pathology at UofM Hospital.

Will served as a Major in the U.S. Army at Fort Walter Reed from 1974-1976, after which he took a job at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. But the south was calling him. Specifically, an Army friend and colleague called to invite him to join a new pathology practice at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, SC. After over 20 years, Will moved to Lexington Medical Center, then ended his career as a part time pathologist at the V.A. and other clinics. Will thrived in his practice, as he did with so many of his interests.

Will was preeminent in his field, becoming the first board-certified hematopathogist in the state of South Carolina. He was consulted nationally on the most challenging hematopathogy cases, and his curiosity motivated him to run multiple tests on tissue samples and identify cellular patterns that helped him better understand and treat blood and lymphatic diseases.

Ever eccentric, Will was known for his story-telling. His family and friends have all heard many-a-story, often lasting many-a-minute, filled with acknowledged embellishments and often changing over time, but always evoking laughter. His persistence and insistence led to many interesting, and sometimes contentious, decisions and debates. Yet his larger-than life personality, undeniably strong constitution and jovial nature endeared him to friends, family and strangers.

Will was also a true Renaissance man – in addition to being a skilled musician, he refinished and built furniture, enjoyed woodworking and gardening, metalworking, starting (and ending) a plant nursey, studying holistic medicine and making use of his tractor and bulldozer on his acreage in Cedar Creek.

Will never fully stopped grieving the woman who captured his heart, but predeceased him in 2024 after 54 years of marriage. He would often gaze lovingly at photos of Gail, noting her beauty through all the stages of her life. After losing Gail, Will took comfort in his son, Ben, who increasingly cared for him in the following years, his dogs, Smokey and Spike, and his children and grandchildren who always lit up his face. He was incredibly proud of his family, to whom he showed his love in many ways.

Will is predeceased by his wife, Gail, and survived by his children Amy of Pawleys Island, Will (Melanie) of Raleigh, Alicia of Asheville and Ben of Blythewood; his grandchildren Colette and Jack Armstrong and Dax and Gray Chatham; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Deborah and Paul Shea of Houghton, NY; nieces Christie Shea, Heidi (David) Huizenga, and Linda (Eli) Knapp.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2pm on Sunday, March 29th in the Smith Chapel at First Presbyterian Church, 1420 Washington Street, Columbia, SC.