NORMAN ARMSTRONG

ARMSTRONG, COL. NORMAN EDWARD, was born June 30, 1921. He grew up in New York State; Plattsburgh, Bronx, Pleasantville, Briarcliff Manor and nine years at Graham School Orphanage, Hastings-On-Hudson, 1931-1940. Norman attended the University of Alabama Aeronautical Engineering, 1940-1942. He was commissioned in the Army Air Corps January 1942. He is a retired Air Force Command Pilot, a World War II, Korean Conflict and Vietnam Era Veteran. During World War II he piloted the B-29, "5 O'Clock Shadow" in the Pacific Rim and paved the way for the Enola Gay. He served in the Air Force from January 21, 1942 to November 10, 1964. He was chief of Ballistic Missile equipment and spares branch at the Strategic Air Command, Omaha, Nebraska. Norman moved from SAC headquarters to McCoy AFB in 1963 and was medically retired from the Air Force November 10, 1964. He was a member of the High I.Q. Club of America. He received a Bachelor of General Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1963, majoring in Military Science, World Geography and World Resources. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Central Florida in 1977, majoring in Production Tool Design, Production Management and Computers. Norman worked at the Kennedy Space Center for General Electric as a logistics specialist supporting the Apollo Program 1965-1967. The Boeing Company 1967-1968 as a senior spares engineer at the Kennedy Space Center and member of the Material review board for failed and discrepant parts. He spent a brief six months in Seattle in 1969 writing specifications for the Boeing AWACS sub contractors. He then returned to Orlando and his family and joined the Postal Service from 1970 to 1983. Norman was also a certified automatic transmission overhaul mechanic, a Certified Arc Welder and volunteered at Mid-Florida Tech welding shop and a print shop in Kissimmee. He loved to build and repair things, whittle small animals he gave to hearing impaired children, and also had a working knowledge of American Sign Language. He studied Japanese culture, history, geography, and language. He lived in Japan for three years, and was fluent in Japanese. He was a member of the Pine Castle United Methodist Church, the Pine Castle Masonic Lodge, a 32 Degree Mason and a Shriner. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife of 60 years, Dona Louise Cherry Armstrong; two gifted children: Lisa Susan (Michael) of Orlando and Martin Edward (Pam) of Kissimmee; four grand children: Stephanie (Jerrad) Butler, Kristine (Joe) Shunamon, Kerin (Rob) Hawkins and Mark Newsome; six great-grandchildren. To honor Norman's memory, a Masonic ceremony with full military honors will be held on Friday, June 17 at 2 p.m. at the Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home, 2811 Curry Ford Road, (407)898-2561. He will be cremated and interred at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Disabled American Veterans, 2040 W. Central Blvd., Orlando, FL 32805, (407)843-3722 or Pine Castle United Methodist Church 731 Fairlane Avenue, Orlando, Fl 32809
(407) 438-2720.