Robert Keith Armstrong
RAWLINGS, MD - Robert Keith Armstrong, 70, gained his heavenly wings peacefully in his sleep at the family home in Rawlings MD on June 17, 2024.
Bob was born July 13, 1953 at Brookley AFB, in Mobile, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ret. Lt Col Clement Harold Armstrong and Martha Lillian (Thrush) Armstrong; and one half brother, Richard Armstrong, Ardmore, OK; and one cousin, Clem Armstrong, Rawlings, MD.
Surviving are his half-sister Bonnie Jean Armstrong Coile (West); two aunts Lucille (Armstrong) Stair, & Leila (Thrush) Garrett; several nieces & nephews and numerous cousins of the Armstrong and Thrush families; and many many friends from the sky to the ground, and a very special cat named Boo. Bob had so many dear friends, but Darlene, Lucille, Dave, Fred, Kurt, Tom, & Wendy were truly kin to him!
Bob was indeed an Air Force brat, living in Panama and the Philippines during his father’s 3+ decades of service in three wars. Growing up around military bases with large inventories of Air Force aircraft, cemented the stage for his never ending interest in aviation, the same dedication instilled in his father and best friend. With Harold’s last assignment at McGuire AFB, NJ, it was here that Bob earned his first job cleaning one of the flying club’s aircraft. The natural outcome of this exposure was that Harold, a civilian FAA flight instructor, first began to offer flight instruction to his son in 1969. After having 16.7 hours of instruction, Harold said to Bob, “So long” and “give me three satisfactory landings”. That mission was accomplished and Bob became an FAA authorized private pilot at age 16! The horizon became wide open for Bob!
After his dad’s retirement in 1973, the family moved back to Rawlings MD and Bob enrolled at West Virginia University obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree. Over summer breaks, his first piloting job was with Romney Flying Service who was contracted with the WV Department of Agriculture. Bob flew a small tail-dragger Piper Supercub, based out of Mexico Farms Airport.
In 1978 Bob was employed by the Nicholson Air Service operation out of the Cumberland Airport. As an airline pilot and First Officer he flew Beechcraft 99 and Piper PA-31 aircraft. During the 1980’s his father operated Armstrong Flight Service and performed local corporate requirements using a Navion Rangemaster, Cessna 421, Cessna 310Q, Beechcraft-58P and Piper PA-601P aircraft. Harold and Bob flew corporate owners in the Cumberland area on these varied missions for two decades.
Bob was then hired as a survey pilot for Earth Data Aviation from 1999-2001. He operated out of Hagerstown flying a Piper PS-31 and Helio H395, and covered large areas in various locations throughout the US & South America. During this time he became the Chief Pilot for Lou Ort in his Fibred Group LLC, flying Lou and others on company business to many locations. This was accomplished in a Piper PA-60 (Aerostar) and a Machen 700 aircraft. Bob spent 14 years supporting Lou Ort and his operation.
Good fortune followed as Bob was hired as Chief Pilot for Allegheny Wood Products. Later he became Chief Pilot for the Summit Bank of Moorefield, flying the modern Pilatus PC-12NG, based at Petersburg Airport in WV. From 2019 until his retirement on June 30, 2023, he flew all over the country in support of both of these operations. It hardly needs to be stated that Bob has enjoyed every minute while performing these flight operations,…..except for an overnight stay in the Denver area Holiday Inn when he slipped and shattered his pelvis!
Bob Armstrong had a proven record of reliability and dedication as a professional pilot for over 50 years. Bob joined his father in restoration of multiple antique aircraft, which were flown to many air shows across the country. Bob was a member of the Burlington United Methodist Church, a lifetime member of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association), Aeronca Club, AOPA (Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association), QB Club, OX-5 Organization, Cumberland Soaring Group, Soaring Society of America, and the Vintage Sailplane Association.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Robert “Bob” Armstrong to the Burlington Union Church, c/o Howard Page, 13044 Upper Patterson Creek Rd, Burlington, WV 26710.
Family and friends will be received on Monday, June 24, 2024 at the Markwood Funeral Home, Keyser from 5:00 – 8:00pm. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at the Burlington Union Church, Burlington at 10:00am with Pastor William Johnson officiating. Inurnment will follow services in Church Hill Cemetery, Burlington.
“Blue skies”
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert "Bob" Keith Armstrong, please visit our floral store.
