John Armstrong

John D Armstrong, Jr., age 94 of Rockwall, TX, and Paducah, KY, passed away April 17, 2014. He was born in Anderson, SC, on January 15, 1920, to John D Armstrong, Sr. and Blanche Armstrong. Having lost his father at the age of 12, John D was raised by his mother in Rutherford County, NC.

He attended Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, NC, before volunteering for duty in the Army Air Force, where he served as a B17 tail gunner during World War II. After flying 50 missions in Europe, he returned to the States to train gunners on the B29 for the duration of the war. John D was always proud to have been among the first to volunteer for service when America entered WWII, and was grateful for his father's example of military service during World War I.

After the war, John D began his training as a Journeyman Electrician in Spindale, NC, where he obtained his Master Electrician accreditation. He was married to Elaine Armstrong, the youngest child of John and Abi McMahan, on October 5, 1947, in Rutherfordton County, NC. John D moved his family to Paducah, KY, where he was employed by Union Carbide during the construction phase of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. He worked in the Electrical Department there for 32 years, before retiring in 1983, and eventually moving to Rockwall, TX. John D was a strong Christian man, dedicated to his God and his family. He lived out his life with conviction and faith, always leading others by example.

John D is survived by his loving wife of 66 years: Elaine Armstrong; his sons: John D Armstrong III and wife Linda of Heath, TX, and Rickey David Armstrong and wife Beverly of Tampa, FL; grandchildren: Kelly Armstrong and Jade Armstrong Crone of Rockwall, TX, and Ian Armstrong of Dallas, TX; great-grandchildren: Kenyon Harper of Rowlett, TX, Kendal Beheler of Royse City, TX, Trystan Crone, Mikayla Crone, Keith Hunt and Rylee Revo, all of Rockwall, TX, and Kyler Lockey of Hamlet, NC. He was preceded in death by sisters: Evelyn Millican of Paducah, KY, and Dorothy Walker of Macon, GA.

Funeral services will be held 11:00am, Monday, April 21, 2014, at Rest Haven Funeral Home-Rockwall Chapel with Pastor Rick Donaho officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the funeral beginning at 10:00am. Graveside services will be held 10:00am, Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in Woodland Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Paducah, KY.