Milton McCool Armstrong, 98, of Viera, FL, passed away on April 27, 2024. Milton was born in Columbia, Missouri, on July 21, 1925, and raised in Springfield, Missouri. His parents were Orland Kay Armstrong and Louise McCool Armstrong.
Mr. Armstrong was raised in Springfield, Missouri, where he attended high school and lifeguarded at Grant's Beach, the local public pool. Milton played the Baritone in the high school band. He was a natural athlete, competing in track and field and cross-country. In addition to his high school activities, Milton was a devoted member of the Boy Scouts of America, attaining the rank of Life Scout before the attack on Pearl Harbor. His enlistment in the U.S. Navy ended his aspirations for Eagle Scout.
Milton had many adventures throughout his life. He related stories of his boyhood adventures in his Mother's birthplace, Hoboken, Georgia, and the days he spent at his Uncle's hunting and fishing retreat on the Crooked River, including the summer he and his brother Kay spent two weeks hitchhiking from Springfield to Hoboken.
Milton was a patriot. He enlisted in the US Naval Aviation Program one month before his 18th birthday, which was "moved" to June 21 to facilitate his enlistment. During World War II, Milton trained as a naval aviator. Fortunately, the war ended before he was sent to the Pacific.
Milton returned from the military to graduate from the University Of Missouri School Of Business Administration. While at the University of Missouri, he married Jeanne Devereux in 1950. She was a graduate student of Christian College in Columbia and lived in Midland, Texas. They moved to Snyder, Texas, so Milton could "learn the oil business." His work experience includes a year as a roust-a-bout and roughneck in the canyon reef oil fields near Snyder, northwest of Dallas, Texas.
Seeking a safer work environment than the floor of an oil drilling derrick, Milton and Jeanne moved to Wichita, Kansas. He worked on the 24-hour-a-day production of Boeing Aircraft during the Cold War.
When Milton left Boeing, he was employed for four years as an assistant or executive officer of the local chapter of the National Association of Home Builders in Wichita. Four children were born in the marriage with Jeanne Devereux, but complications of compatibility ended the marriage in divorce. Milton continued his work with the Greater Home Builders of Chicagoland in Chicago, IL, from 1955 to 1963.
Milton considered it a "stroke of good fortune" to meet Donna Sue Thompson Hoy, a widow with three children from the same hometown of Springfield, Missouri. She was teaching English at Missouri State. They married in June of 1962 and moved to Aurora, Illinois, on the Fox River, where he commuted to Oak Brook, the new headquarters of the HBA of Greater Chicagoland. Within a year, further good fortune allowed them financially to resign from his job, and they moved to Maitland, Florida, in 1963.
Milton founded "Good Fortune Homes" with his wife in Maitland, FL, in 1963 and worked in speculative home building. Milton and Donna Sue bought a home in Maitland, where the Hoy children spent their early years in school. The family joined the First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, where they participated in choir, youth group, and many other activities.
The Armstrong and Hoy families were blended over the years, with as many as six of the seven children living in Maitland together for a short time as the family continued participating in church, scouting, sports, and school activities. Donna Sue later retired from teaching and enjoyed many years serving in her church and visiting her grandchildren. She died of heart valve complications in November 2015.
Milton and Donna Sue were devoted members of the First United Methodist Church in Winter Park, Florida, where he worshipped for more than sixty years, drove members in buses, and ushered every week.
Milton became a Registered Real Estate Broker in Maitland, FL, from 1966 to 2016 and was the Florida Real Estate Exchangers President in 1975. Milton continued as a Realtor for over 40 years, earning the "Emeritus" title and not having to pay dues to the local Board of Realtors in the future. He was President of the Florida Real Estate Exchangers in 1975. He was a third-party Qualified Intermediary to facilitate IRS tax-deferred real estate exchanges for hundreds of clients until late 2016. Milton kept his Real Estate broker license active well into his ninth decade, consulting with clients.
Milton was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Donna Sue Thompson Hoy Armstrong, son Grant Devereux Armstrong, sister Louise Cattan, brother Charles Armstrong, brother Kay Armstrong, and various other family members.
Milton is survived by his children: Jeanne (Lonnie) Culbertson, James (Yolly) Armstrong, Diana Armstrong Doane (David), Wesley D. Hoy, Jeffrey D. Hoy (Ann), and Nancy "Janna" Hoy Johnston (Vinnie).
Grandchildren include Staci Lin Stabler (James), Katherine Anne Wood, Matthew Armstrong (Kelly), Jennifer Armstrong Parks (Jason), Gregory Armstrong
(Emely), Jonathan Thomas Boss, Tiffany Marie Cullen, Veronica Leigh Sullivan (Andy), Tiffany Hoy Pastor (Luke), Jeffrey Hoy (Jessie), Andrew Hoy (Brenna), David Ballentine, and Kathy Mae McGuire Nick). Milton also had a plethora of great-grandchildren
, but he would say they are all really great.
A Celebration of Life will be held on May 23, 2024, at 11 am at the First United Methodist Church, 125 N Interlachen Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789.
Instead of flowers, contributions can be made to the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse at 300 Brevard Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922, or Vitas Hospice of Brevard at 4450 W Eau Gallie Blvd. Suite 250, Melbourne, FL 32940.
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