David Howell Armor

David Howell Armor, 91, died peacefully on August 25, 2018, at St. Mary's Home of Erie. He was born in New York City, to two artists, Mary Jackson Armor, a musician, and Morris Howell Armor, an actor.

David spent his childhood in Manhattan and adolescence in White Plains, N.Y., where he completed high school. He enlisted in the Army Air Force, but never saw combat. He then graduated from Stanford University with a B.S. in Psychology. At the urging of his wife, he returned to college and earned a B.S. in Mechanical Design Engineering from New York University.

From 1961 to 1987, he worked as an engineer at General Electric, in Syracuse, N.Y., then Lynn, Mass., and, finally Erie, where he moved his family in 1971. He inspired great admiration from his colleagues (and also a bit of frustration for those in charge of timelines and budgets) as he was absolutely unwavering in creating foolproof fuel systems and circuit breakers for GE's locomotives. Many years after his retirement, others noted that his designs were among the only ones that never failed. His passion for design was also funneled into spending years building and improving his family's residence on Lake Erie. Once retired, he pursued physical fitness and volunteer work. He served on the Board of Directors of Stairways, Inc. for 26 years. He was an avid member of the YMCA, Mensa, and a Buddhist study group. He, with his late wife, was an oblate with Mount St. Benedict. In the 1990s he acted in several productions of Erie's Roadhouse Theater, and immensely enjoyed the challenge and camaraderie of experimental plays.

He was predeceased by his son, Gary, and his wife, Cecile Barth Armor.

David is survived by his daughter Kelly Armor and her husband John Vanco.

The many who knew and loved him will remember him for his abundant hugs and outrageous questions, his zest for life, his commitment to liberal causes, and his love of music and dancing.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie will host a visiting hour at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 6, followed by a memorial service and reception at 4:00 p.m. at 7180 Perry Hwy., Erie, PA 16509. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, 6101 East Lake Road, Erie, PA 16511.The Brugger Funeral Homes & Crematory, Pine Avenue Branch, 845 East 38th, assisted with the arrangements.

Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits.