Jack Russell Armstrong

Jack Russell Armstrong, 83, died Sunday, April 6, 2014 at Kingston of Vermilion after a lengthy illness. He was born October 30, 1930 in Toledo, Ohio and was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He had been a Vermilion resident for the past 61 years. Mr. Armstrong graduated from Miami University in 1953 and was a veteran of the US Army serving during the Korean War. He taught English and Speech at Vermilion High School for 33 years. During that time he volunteered as a class advisor and with the theater production. Jack was active in his community and through the years served as Mayor, member of City Council, past president of the Chamber of Commerce, and St. Mary's School Board. Mr. Armstrong was also one of the founders of the Festival of the Fish and the Wooley Bear Festival. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jean (nee Donnelly) Armstrong; and four children, Mary Ann (Nick) Callahan of Jacksonville, FL, Tom Armstrong of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Julie (Keith) Sexton of Vermilion, and Jeff (Remy) Armstrong of Metuchen, NJ; as well as three wonderful grandchildren, Connor, Patrick and Rebecca. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Armstrong and Clela (nee Geyer) Gregg. The family will receive friends at the Riddle Funeral Home, 5345 South Street, Vermilion on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 from 5-8 pm with Military Honors presented by the Vermilion Veterans Council at 5:00 pm. Prayers will be said at 9:30 am at the funeral home on Thursday, April 10, 2014 followed by a 10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary Catholic Church 731 Exchange St., Vermilion, OH. The Reverend Ron Brickner will officiate. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery, Vermilion. The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Mary School Endowment Fund, 731 Exchange Street, Vermilion, OH 44089. Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.