Jean Ann Armstrong

Jean Anne (Mason) Armstrong, gifted musician and devoted teacher, passed away on November 3, 2025, at the age of 85 at the Bridgewater Retirement Community in Bridgewater, Virginia. Jean was born on March 29, 1940, on her family's farm near New Guilford, Ohio, in Coshocton County. She was the daughter of Alfred and Leah Grace (Babcock) Mason and is survived by her brother, Don (Ruth Ann) Mason of Warsaw, Ohio. From a young age, Jean's love of music was evident. She began playing piano for worship services at the New Guilford Methodist Church and frequently accompanied school concerts, musicals, and weddings. A 1958 graduate of Union High School, Jean earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Muskingum College. She later continued her education and received her Master of Arts from the State University of New York. Jean devoted 33 years to teaching music in Hyde Park, New York, inspiring generations of students with her passion and creativity. While serving as organist at the Lyall Memorial Federated Church in Millbrook, New York, Jean met Harold Armstrong from Virginia. The two were married on July 3, 1993, and later settled on his family farm in Bridgewater. They eventually made their home at the Bridgewater Retirement Community, where Harold passed away on July 17, 2017. Jean continued to share her musical gifts throughout her years in Bridgewater and served as organist and choir director at the Moscow Covenant Brethren Church. In addition to her brother Don, Jean is survived by her Ohio family: nephew Brian (Tammy) Mason; niece Nicole (Ezra) Helmick; great-niece Ashley (Cody) Carnes; great-nephews Josh Mason, Grant Gunn, and Ross Gunn; great-great-nephew Cooper Mason; great-great-niece Kamryn Carnes; and cousins Rosanna Fouts of Oregon and Carolyn Messick of California. In Virginia, she is survived by sisters-in-law Ruth Helen (Ryland) Howdyshell and Mary Lou Miller, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold; her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Ann (Armstrong) Diehl, and her husband, Paul; her brother-in-law, I.J. Armstrong, and his wife, Arnetta; and her great-great-nephew, Conner Mason. During her years at the Bridgewater Retirement Community, Jean took joy in organizing Meadow Lane lunches and participating in musical and theatrical programs. She also enjoyed gardening, reading, needlework, puzzles, and playing cards and dominoes with her friends. Jean will be remembered for her kindness, quick wit, and unwavering dedication to sharing the joy of music wherever life took her. Following a private burial, a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 17th, at Moscow Covenant Brethren Church, 866 Nash Road, Mount Solon. The family invites friends to share in a meal and time of fellowship following the service, provided by the church. A memorial service will also be held in Ohio at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jean's name to Moscow Covenant Brethren Church (866 Nash Road, Mount Solon, VA 22843) or to a charity of your choice Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral & Cremation Service in Bridgewater. Online condolences to the family may be shared at www.johnsonfs.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jean, please visit our floral store.