Age 77, died in the loving arms of his niece and stepdaughter on Friday, October 1, 2010. Nicknamed "Johnny Jump-up," because of his unlimited energy, John delighted in spending time with his grandchildren, smoking a good cigar and working on any project that involved a hardware store. He was born July 1, 1933 in Poughkeepsie, NY, and he attended Catholic schools through eighth-grade and went on to graduate from Poughkeepsie High School.
He then worked as a mechanical engineer and manager for IBM in New York's Hudson Valley, Boca Raton, FL and Raleigh, NC. He served in the Dutchess County Legislature from 1974 to 1977. He also was a member of the NY Army National Guard for 30 years. In his retirement, he enjoyed rocking his grandchildren to sleep by singing "You are my Sunshine" to them and taking the grandkids to baseball games, putting together their toys and admonishing them to chew their food 20 times before swallowing. He served as president of various community association boards in Jupiter's Abacoa neighborhood. John relished taking on home and community improvement projects, because it gave him an excuse to go to his favorite place: Home Depot, which he fondly called, "Bloomingdale's for Men." He also was a volunteer for AARP.
Survivors include his wife Maureen King Armstrong, to whom he was happily married to for almost 30 years; seven children and stepchildren: John Armstrong Jr. (Angie) and Lisa Rundle (Joe) of San Diego, CA; Leslie Armstrong Kelly, David Armstrong and Matt Ciarfella of Wappinger Falls, NY; Patty Alexander (Brian) of Tustin, CA; and Mark Ciarfella (Nika) of Jupiter, FL. He was predeceased by a son Michael Armstrong in June 1982; 11 grand- children: Natalie and Cristian Armstrong of San Diego, CA; Kristi, Kevin and Shannon Kelly of Wappinger Falls, NY; Eric Murphy of Allentown, PA; Liam and Rhys Alexander of Tustin, CA; and Colin, Reigan and Lily Ciarfella of Jupiter, FL. He also is survived by six brothers and sisters Tom, Charles and Joe Armstrong; and Mary Hart, Louise Mensler and Sister Barbara Armstrong.
There will be a Memorial Service and Viewing at Aycock Funeral Home, 1112 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458, from 5 to 8 PM, Monday, October 4. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County, or the Ella Milbank Foshay Cancer Center at the Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, FL
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