Robert Weeks Armstrong, Jr., 90, of Friendship, died peacefully on May 4 at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport surrounded by his family. Bob was born Jan. 1, 1919, the son of Robert Weeks Armstrong and Edith Creighton. Bob graduated from Winchester High School in 1936 and Bowdoin College in 1940. Bob joined the U.S. Army in 1942 where he attended Yale University for one year of Malay language studies. He then served in the U.S. Army O.S.S. in the Far East Theatre in WWII.
After leaving the Army at the end of WWII, Bob started a Mail Order business, Friendship House, and then, on the death of his father in 1952, took over the family business, Armstrong Yarns. The business diversified and he and his brother, John, founded Armstrong Laboratories, a pharmaceutical and specialties aerosol company. The company merged with ATI in 1964 and he remained as an officer of the company until his retirement in 1979.
In his ‘retirement’ Bob involved himself in property development, financial management, supporting the local Maine community in which he lived, and traveling to far off destinations with his wife and family.
Bob spent his life in Winchester, Mass. and Friendship, retiring in Friendship in 1979. Prior to and upon retirement, Bob and Suzanne traveled across the world, visiting every continent, and building memories of their experiences in locations such as China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Kenya, Panama, Costa Rica, the Virgin Islands, Cook Islands, Bermuda, Russia, and many European countries. He also biked through, as well as white water rafted and fished with his sons in Alaska and visited several provinces in Canada, and traveled across the United States. Bob was an avid sailor and boater on the coast of Maine as well as on the Mystic Lakes in Winchester. Many appreciated his coordination of numerous picnics and lobster bakes along the coast of Maine. Bob was an avid gardener – his and Suzanne’s vegetable and flower gardens have been appreciated by many in Friendship over the years. Bob also enjoyed bridge – preferring the ‘Big Club’ for all who partnered with him, cribbage, and keeping close tabs on the financial markets.
Throughout his life, Bob had served in a variety of public and community organizations including: selectman and chairman of the Selectman of Winchester, Mass.; member and chairman of the Winchester, Mass. Finance Committee; commodore and treasurer of the Winchester Boat Club; introduced the Turnabout Fleet to Mystic Lakes, Cub Master for Boy Scouts, trustee of Crawford Methodist Church, Winchester; trustee and executive committee member, Winchester Hospital; trustee and president, Mt. Vernon Home for the Aged, Winchester; participated in various Bowdoin College capital and alumni activities; chairman, Northeast Health, which is the parent of Penobscot Bay Medical Center, Rockland; chairman, Conversation Committee, Friendship; chairman of the Friendship United Methodist Church finance committee; charter member of Osprey Club, a charitable organization in support of Pen Bay Healthcare; contributor to the Friendship Library; and helped seed the Medomak Valley Land Trust.
Bob was predeceased by two sisters, Priscilla Kennedy Ward, and Ella Wales Wilder and granddaughter, Jenna.
Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years, Suzanne Burr Armstrong of Friendship; sons, Robert Weeks Armstrong III and wife Deborah of Camden, Jeffrey Burr Armstrong and wife Nancy of Thomaston, Peter Creighton Armstrong and wife Lauren of Waldoboro; daughter, Barbara Coffin Armstrong and husband Andrew Pollack of Cumberland; nine grandchildren, Nicholas, Danielle, Kathryn, Alexandra, Theodore, Gordon, Aeriel, Coryn, and Caitlin; sister, Mary Cady of Florida; brother, John Armstrong of Massachusetts; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family across many states.
Private family ceremony will be held this week. A celebration of Bob’s life will be held in July for family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, for those that wish, Bob and Suzanne would appreciate donations to support the Friendship Library, P.O. Box 39, Friendship, ME 04547; Friendship Ambulance Fund, c/o Phyllis Conary, P.O. Box 88, Friendship, ME 04547 or the Friendship Fire Department, P.O. Box 177, Friendship, ME 04547 in recognition of Bob’s love of education and friendship.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
