John Kirkland Armstrong, veteran, AT&T retiree
John Kirkland Armstrong, 88, of Venice, Fla., passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after a brief illness. John was a remarkable man whose life was characterized by a deep love for his family, an unwavering sense of adventure, and an indomitable spirit.
John was born and raised in Wilmington. He graduated from P.S. DuPont High School, attended Washington College, and graduated from Goldy-Beacom College. John was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He retired from AT&T after 36 years of service.
John is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 65 years, Ann Dougherty Armstrong; his two daughters, Patti Wilkins (Bill) of Rotonda West, Fla., and Judy Hughes (Mark) of Seal Beach, Calif.; daughter-in-law, Julia Armstrong of Wynnewood, Pa.; his five grandchildren, Drew, Dana, Katherine (K.C.), Dean and Jon; and two great-grandchildren Oliver and Emmy; John enjoyed the love of his family, as well as that of his many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.
He is predeceased by his son, J. Kirk Armstrong Jr. of Newark; his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Fred F. Armstrong of Wilmington; and his brothers, Fred (Virginia) and Glen (Margaret).
John enjoyed a life filled with outdoor activities starting in childhood at his family’s cottage in Crumpton, Md. Later, he continued his love of the outdoors with his own family at their cottage on Shallcross Lake, and homes in Oak Orchard, the Florida Keys and Venice, Fla. His favorite endeavors included teaching his children and grandchildren the joys of fishing and crabbing. He had patience, wisdom and a love for nature. Although he received a business administration degree, his real passion was home design and architecture. He was constantly sketching and researching new home designs. His keen eye for design and craftsmanship showed in the homes he created. During his marriage with Ann, he designed and built five homes in Delaware and Florida. He was also a talented woodworker, and enjoyed collecting and refinishing antiques. Later in life, he found enjoyment in cooking and grilling. He mastered the true cheeseburger in paradise with his precision on the grill. John was known for creating fun at parties and celebrations. He also enjoyed racket sports, including tennis and ping pong, which he learned and mastered while serving with the Army in Japan.
John was a member of the Delaware Anglers & Gunners Club, Indian River Yacht Club, and the American Legion.
John’s family plans to celebrate his life in a private ceremony later this summer.
If you wish to honor John’s memory in lieu of flowers, consider a donation in honor of his son J. Kirk Armstrong for Pancreatic Cancer Research, lustgarten.org.
