Harland Armitage

Harland Burnell Armitage (“Armi” or H.B.) of Marietta, Georgia died peacefully on September 27, 2015 at Wellstar Tranquility Hospice Center at Kennesaw Mountain. A native of Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, he was born on a dairy farm on August 27, 1925, to Owen Burnell and Nina Mae Cobb Armitage, the fourth child of six.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Wilson Cobb Armitage, Rolland Cassius Armitage, Elizabeth Damon Messenger, Wilma Irene Ross, and Alice Ann Jones.

Armi graduated early from Youngsville (PA) High School in 1943 and entered the United States Army Air Forces Pilot Program. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and for a time was the youngest pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces. By 1945 he was an instructor pilot for the B-25 aircraft.

Armi met Katherline Nichols in Montgomery, Alabama while stationed at Maxwell Field. They married on August 5th, 1945, and began a beautiful life together. He began his studies at Auburn University in agricultural engineering, but soon changed his major to aeronautical engineering. In 1951, during his senior year at Auburn, he was recalled to active duty in the United States Air Force and sent to Korea. Because of his flying experience in the B-25 and B-26 bombers he was assigned to the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, flying night missions to stop enemy forces from supplying their front lines. He returned from Korea in 1953, graduated from Auburn and began graduate studies at Georgia Tech. He continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserve until he reached 20 years of service.

Armi began his career at Lockheed in engineering but moved over to Flight Test and completed a 30 year career as an engineering test pilot for many different aircraft. He then took a position at the Georgia Tech Engineering Experiment Station as Pilot and Senior Research Engineer, heading the Flight Operations Group. Retiring again after 10 years in this capacity, he was in demand as a consultant for the aerospace industry.

A member of First Baptist Church of Marietta for 53 years, Armi served as a deacon for much of that time. He was active in all areas of church life. One of his proudest accomplishments was serving on the committee responsible for compiling the book A Fellowship of Defenders, written by Ruth Miller.

Armi is survived by his wife of 70 years, Katherline Nichols Armitage and his three daughters - Kaye Armitage DeJarnett (Stan), Sheri Armitage Pender (William) and Lisa Armitage Liebe. He is survived by nine grandchildren – Joshua Pender, Brittany DeJarnett Kisner, Amy Pender Dockery, Caroline DeJarnett Flexer, Andrew Liebe, Julia Pender, Emily DeJarnett, Richard Liebe, and Joseph Liebe. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren – Aaron Liebe, William Dockery and Kathleen (Kate) Kisner.

Family Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday September 29th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Mayes Ward Dobbins Funeral Home, Marietta. Memorial Service will be held Wednesday September 30th at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Marietta, preceded by a burial service for family at Kennesaw Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the local and global ministries of First Baptist Church, Marietta.