French W. Armstrong, 94, of the Waterloo Road, French Creek, died Monday, October 19, 2020, at his home.
He was born May 13, 1926, at Cow Run, a son of the late Willie French and Jesse Waugh Armstrong.
On April 9, 1955, he was united in marriage to Lois Virginia Knepp Armstrong, who preceded him in death on March 6, 2020.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was also preceded in death by one son, Thomas Mark Armstrong; one grandson, Mark Anthony Galeazzi; two sisters: Rosalee Hedrick and Louise Morris; and three brothers: Robert, Edward, and Alan Armstrong.
He is survived by one daughter Rebecca Ann Galeazzi of French Creek; one son John Lee Armstrong of Elkview; and three grandchildren: Alexandra, Stephanie, and Hunter Armstrong.
Mr. Armstrong was a veteran of the U.S. Army and upon his honorable discharge, he enrolled in the W.Va. State Police Academy, followed by a career in the W.Va. State Police that spanned from 1948-1981, when he retired with the rank of Captain.
He then pursued a career in real estate as an owner of Armstrong-Davis Realty and cultivated his noted Christmas Tree Farm in French Creek.
His devotion to civic organizations was boundless as evidenced by the numerous groups which benefited from his active participation: Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber of Commerce, Upshur County Development Authority, Southern Upshur Business Association, Central Upshur Lions Club, Upshur County Farm Bureau (Board of Directors), W.Va. Forestry Stewardship Program, W.Va. and National Tree Growers Associations, and the W.Va. State Police Retired Members Association.
He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Buckhannon, a 32nd degree Mason and member of the Rock Cave Lodge 81 A.F. & A.M., the Rock Cave Aletha Chapter 82 Order of the Eastern Star, and had served a six-year term as an Upshur County Commissioner.
The family will receive friends on Friday, October 23, 2020, from 5-7 p.m., at the Heavner & Cutright Funeral Chapel. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2020, at 1 p.m., at the French Creek Memorial Gardens, where the Rock Cave Masonic Lodge 81 will conduct graveside rites.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Upshur Lions Club, SUBA, W.Va. State Police Retired Members Association, Frenchton Bobcats 4-H Club, Upshur County Farm Bureau, First Presbyterian Church, Rock Cave Masonic Lodge 81, Rock Cave Order of the Eastern Star 82, or the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be extended to the Armstrong family at www.heavnerandcutright.com. The Armstrong family entrusted the Heavner & Cutright Funeral Chapel with the arrangements.
My Buckhannon publishes obituaries free of charge as a courtesy to the family. Readers can support our publication by becoming a premium member.
