Violet Elna Armstrong

Violet Elna Hewitt ArmstrongJanuary 21, 1914 ~ May 7, 2009Vi was born near Penns Grove, Salem County, New Jersey to William Dalbow Hewitt and Minnie Elna Humphreys Hewitt on January 21, 1914. She graduated from Penns Grove High School in 1931 and Trenton State Teachers College (Now College of New Jersey) in 1934. She began her teaching career at South Branch, NJ where she taught grades 1-8 in a single room. She subsequently taught at Chestnut School, a demonstration school in Roselle, NJ, where she met and married fellow teacher Donald Norris Armstrong on June 28, 1938. During WWII, Don served in the Navy, which brought about moves to California and Florida. After the war, they settles in Lexington MA until the Navy called Don to Washington DC during the Korean War. Following that assignment, Vi and Don moved to Dallas, TX where she was occupied rearing their four children but was also able to find time for children's theater and other civic pursuits such as lobbying for a neighborhood public library. Eventually, she returned to North Texas State University earning credentials to teach school in Texas and returned to teaching. They moved to LaPorte, TX where Vi and Don returned to teaching following Don's retirement from Texas Instruments, Inc. After they retired from teaching, they followed their kids to Longmont, CO.In Longmont, Vi was very active in Women's Aglow Fellowship and with the Prestige Club and in several local churches, most recently with Grace Evangelical Free Church where she was a member. She also drew upon her many years of teaching to join a mentoring program for middle school students. She recently moved to Grand Junction to be near her son and his wife. Last summer Vi showed her joie de vivre by traveling cross-country to Waterville, ME for an Armstrong family reunion. Vi touched and influenced many lives through her guidance, counsel and prayer and will be missed.Her husband and one granddaughter as well as her sister Pearl who died in infancy and a brother who died in WWII predeceased her. She is survived by her daughter Elna A. Graham of Bismarck, ND, sons Drew (Tina) of Palisade, CO, Bruce (Janet) of Longmont, CO and Tom (Maura) of Sedalia, CO plus 6 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and one 2nd great granddaughter.Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 30 at the Howe Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Tom Beaman of Grace Evangelical Free Church, Longmont, officiating.Contributions may be made to the Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 60307, Grand Junction, CO 81506.