James Albert Armstrong
b. 8 October 1922, d. 2 August 2006
- Father: Foster James Armstrong b. 19 December 1884
- Mother: Gertrude Millicent Cleghorn b. 25 January 1888, d. 5 February 1972
- James Albert Armstrong was born on 8 October 1922 in Ceres, McKean County, Pennsylvania.
- Frank William Smith appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Shinglehouse, Potter County, Pennsylvania. Other members of the household included James Albert Armstrong, Gertrude Millicent Cleghorn, Abbie M. Armstrong and Jay Earl Armstrong. Gertrude Armstrong, employed as housekeeper by widowed blacksmith Frank Smith, boarding in his household with her six children.
- He married Odella Charboneau.
- The following appeared on 9 February 1972 in The Patriot & Free Press: Gertrude Cleghorn Smith, 84, of 9 Pelton Court, died in Cuba Memorial Hospital Saturday, February 5, 1972, following a long illness.
Born Jan. 25, 1888 in Lewiston, she was a daughter of John. C. and Barbara Stahle Cleghorn, and had lived in Cuba 22 years. In 1931 she was married to Frank W. Smith, who survives.
Also surviving are six sons, Warren B. Armstrong, Wooster, Ohio, Laurence A. Armstrong of Canisteo, Robert Armstrong of Clermont, Pa., James Armstrong of Staunton, Va., Jay E. Armstrong of Cuba, and Joseph F. Smith of Delevan; six daughters, Mrs. Moeton Grossman of Los Angeles, Mrs. Earl Troupe of Dallas, Tex., Mrs. Joseph Lyden of Petersburg, Va., Mrs. Leslie Wakefield of Falls Church, Va., Mrs. Grover Moore of Hialeah, Fla., Mrs. William Ingalls of Cuba; a step--daughter, Mrs. Charles Wilson of Warren, Pa.
Also two sisters, Mrs. Montie Fainer of Los Angeles and Mrs. Hugh Barber of Black Creek; two brothers, Harold J. Cleghorn of Delevan and Robert B. Cleghorn of Clarksburg, [W.] Va; and 48 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services Tuesday at the Voorhees Funeral Homer were conducted by the Rev. Alan Merrill, pastor of the Independent Congregational Church of Black Creek. Burial was in Cuba Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Cuba Memorial Hospital Inc. - James Albert Armstrong died on 2 August 2006 at age 83 in Richmond, Virginia, at Saint Mary's Hospital.
- The following appeared in The Press Republican: (Ticonderoga and Virginia) Dr. James Albert Armstrong, 83, educator, college president and World War II veteran, died Aug. 2, 2006, at Saint Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Va.
He was born in Ceres Township, Pa., Oct. 8, 1922, the son of Foster John Armstrong and Gertrude Millicent Cleghorn Armstrong, one of 14 children.
Dr. Armstrong attended public schools in Potter County, Pa. He began college at Mansfield State College in Mansfield, Pa. He left after one year to work as an X-ray technician for two years in Ann Arbor, Mich. With World War II beginning, Al was prevented from enlisting in the military by poor eyesight. He was able however to join the Merchant Marine and served in the North Atlantic and later the Pacific theaters, facing the same dangers as sailors in the Navy. He was proud of entering the Merchant Marine as a Fireman and rising in rank to Third Officer. He later transitioned to the Army Transport Service and was discharged from that organization at the end of the war.
In 1946, with the war over, Al returned to continue his college education. He enrolled at East Stroudsburg State College, Stroudsburg, Pa., where he graduated with a bachelor of science in chemistry.
He then taught at Port Henry High School, Port Henry, N.Y., from 1950 - 1955. In 1955, while teaching at Port Henry, he also received his masters of science degree in biology from Albany State College.
In 1955, he moved to State University of NY, Agricultural and Technical College, Delhi, N.Y., where he taught and served as the Chairman - General Studies Division. While at State University of NY, he completed his doctorate requirements and received his educational degree in community college administration at the Teachers College of Columbia University.
In 1965, he became Dean at Harford Junior College, Bel Air, Md.
In 1969, Al and his wife Dolly moved to Staunton, where he became president of the newly established Blue Ridge Community College. During his 16 year tenure, he saw enrollment grow and programs of study double. There were many vocational programs added such as animal technology, diesel mechanics, data processing, nursing, and law enforcement.
After retiring from Blue Ridge, Al stayed busy in the Staunton community. One of his endeavors was writing the history of the college for the 25th anniversary.
Al was born into humble beginnings and by virtue of hard work and an inquisitive mind, rose to the position of college president. In that position, he provided many people the opportunity for a better life through the vocational programs he instituted at Blue Ridge. He was first always a teacher and a man of science. But he will also be remembered for his sense of humor. His quick wit endeared him to all who knew him. He will be missed most for his easy smile.
He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Odella "Dolly" Charboneau Armstrong; and by three brothers, Lawrence Allan Armstrong, Warren B. Armstrong and John Foster Armstrong; six sisters, Genevieve Armstrong, Dorothy Grossman, Barbara Armstrong Lyden, Gertrude Eliza Moore, Constance Smith Ingalls and Abbie Troupe; and by his great-great niece, Madison Hall.
He is survived by three brothers, Jay Earl Armstrong, Joseph Frank Smith and Robert Leroy Armstrong; one sister, Lois Wakefield; and many nieces and nephews, including Mamie Whalen of Ticonderoga and her children, Jim and Diane Whalen of Lewiston, Maine, Michael and Karen Whalen of Minot, Maine, and Dannae and Matt Hall of Ticonderoga; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service was held to honor the passing of Dr. Armstrong at the Blue Ridge Community College on Aug. 26, 2006.
The Rite of Committal will take place at the family plot of St. Mary's Parish Cemetery of Ticonderoga on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2006, at 1 p.m. The Rev. Mr. Elliott A. Shaw, Dr. Armstrong's nephew, will officiate.
Local arrangements are under the direction of the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home of Ticonderoga.
Donations in his memory may be made to the James A. and Odella M. Armstrong Scholarship Fund, c/o Blue Ridge Community College, Box 80, One College Lane, Weyers Cove, VA 24486.
- Last Edited: 13 Feb 2014