Margaret ARMSTRONG

Mar 29, 1918 - Nov 6, 2012
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*Obituary
arkansasonline.com

Published: November 7, 2012

MARGARET ELIZABETH REED ARMSTRONG passed away Tuesday, Nov 6, 2012. Margaret was born in Gurdon, Arkansas, on March 29, 1918. She was the daughter of Leulah Lowe and Milner Woodhull Reed.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Major General Thomas Craft (Tom) Armstrong (US Army, ret.), her parents, and her brothers, Milner Lowe Reed and William Earl Reed. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Carolyn Armstrong Harrison and son-in-law, William Andrew Harrison; son, Thomas C. Armstrong II; four grandchildren and their spouses, Katherine Harrison Sockwell and Spencer L. Sockwell, Angela Harrison Kuli and Kirk A. Kuli, Holly Harrison Cooper and Kenneth O. Cooper, and Julia Alexander and William Andrew (Drew) Harrison Jr.; seven great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Reed Sockwell, Sarah Camille Sockwell, Katherine Grace Kuli, Charlotte Reed Kuli, Kenneth Ousley (Casey) Cooper II, Mary Margaret Cooper, and Mary Katelyn Harrison; her sister, Carolyn Reed Deal of Monroe, La.; her sister-in-law, Nora Armstrong Buffington of Newport, Ark.; her dear cousin, Dr. Virginia Lou Langston of Hammond, La.; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Margaret was raised in Newport, Arkansas, and graduated from Newport High School. She and her husband Tom met in 7th grade and became childhood sweethearts. In 1941, while stationed with the United States Army in El Paso, Texas, Tom made a collect phone call to Margaret's family asking her to marry him. She said yes. Margaret boarded the train in Newport with a wedding dress and they were wed on July 7, 1941, in Manhattan Street Presbyterian Church, El Paso, Texas. The next day, he was shipped out to the Aleutian Islands. When he returned stateside for Officers Candidate School, Margaret travelled with him until he was again shipped overseas, where he served in the European Campaign of WWII. He returned from WWII in 1945 and they made their home in Newport. Tom became a full-time employee of the Arkansas National Guard and rose to the position of Adjutants General. Margaret was affectionately known as the General's Lady for her support throughout his military career. On the day he was appointed Adjutants General, he presented her with a crown of stars in honor of the love and devotion they had for each other. Margaret fully supported him in his military career and enjoyed serving as an Officer's wife, with all the roles and responsibilities it entailed. They raised their two children in North Little Rock. A life-long Presbyterian, Margaret was the organist at First Presbyterian Church in Newport. She and Tom were both active leaders in Park Hill Presbyterian Church in North Little Rock, where she served as President of Women of the Church, Moderator of the Presbyterian Women, and was presented the Honorary Lifetime Membership of Presbyterian Women for her service to her church. She was a founding member of the Bell Choir where she played 20 years. She and Tom enjoyed the 50+ group at church and the Lunch Bunch, a gathering of retired friends that met regularly for fun and fellowship. Margaret enjoyed her sisterhood in P.E.O. Chapter I, and their support of Cottey College where her daughter attended College.

Funeral arrangements are by Roller-Owens Funeral Home of North Little Rock. A reception will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the parlor of Park Hill Presbyterian Church, followed by the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Gordon Garlington of Park Hill Presbyterian Church will officiate with internment to follow at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you make donations to Park Hill Presbyterian Church, 3520 JFK Blvd, North Little Rock, Ark. 72116 or The Arkansas National Guard Museum at Camp Robinson, P.O. Box 58, Camp Robinson, North Little Rock, Ark. 72199.

Section B

Contributed on 11/20/16 by hawkinsdonna
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Record #: 1162183

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