William C. "Bill" Armstrong

What a life, what a legacy Bill Armstrong made of serving the Lord, spreading joy to everyone he met along his 94-year adventure. His beautiful soul departed this earth April 28, 2016, when his Savior called him home. He left behind his wife, Nancy, of 54 years and their five sons who invite you to celebrate his promotion. William Crawford Armstrong was born May 9, 1921, on a farm in Brooklyn, New York, to parents Elmer and Mary Armstrong, the youngest of six children. His father raised race horses and promoted an international oil cartel among the era’s wealthiest families only to see it collapse with the Great Depression. At age 6, Armstrong saw Charles Lindbergh in “Welcome Home” ceremonies in Brooklyn after Lindy’s historic solo flight from New York to Paris in 1927. A few years later, Armstrong stood on a street corner selling the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, yelling “Extra! Extra! Read all about it. Lindbergh baby abducted!” Armstrong had a knack for selling newspaper subscriptions door to door and won prizes, including tickets to a Joe Louis training camp where he shook the fighter’s hand as Louis prepared for a 1938 rematch with German Max Schmeling. He also delivered Western Union telegrams, often to players warming up at Ebbets Field. Armstrong would then find a seat in the Brooklyn Dodgers’ stadium to watch some of baseball’s greatest players perform: Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and his favorite – Jackie Robinson. Armstrong graduated from Erasmus Hall High School and attended the Pratt Institute of Art. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, Armstrong enlisted in the Navy to fight in World War II. He graduated from the Naval School of Photography in Pensacola, Florida, and was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Princeton, a small carrier in the Pacific fleet. The crew fought its way from island to island, and when the ship arrived in Okinawa, Armstrong received orders to report stateside for flight training. Ten days after he transferred, the Princeton was sunk by Japanese bombers in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. More than 300 sailors were killed. After the war, Armstrong settled in New Jersey, working for a yearbook publisher, putting his art and photography skills to use. Everything changed in July 1956 when he drove several hours to hear Oklahoma evangelist Oral Roberts conduct a tent crusade at the Pittston, Pennsylvania, race track. That night, Armstrong committed his life to Christ, vowing to follow Him the rest of his days. Later that year, Armstrong decided to move to Tulsa and join the staff of Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association as an artist. He stayed for 10 years, working his way up to editor of Abundant Life magazine and chronicling the opening of Oral Roberts University. While working for Oral Roberts, Armstrong had a secretary, Nancy Peninger of Tulsa, who he fell in love with and a year later married in July 1961 after he had proposed to her in a small private plane as it passed over the Abundant Life Building in downtown Tulsa. They quickly started a family in Brookside, and in 1967 they and their four sons moved to Columbus, Ohio. A fifth son was born there in 1968. Armstrong worked in Columbus as editor and marketing director for Bible Literature International, which supplied Bibles and gospel tracts to missionaries all over the world. While there, he also began freelance writing and editing for other evangelical Christian ministries. He eventually was named among the nation’s top five direct-mail consultants, raising millions of dollars for the Lord’s work. His jobs led him to travel extensively around the nation and world. He eventually visited almost 50 countries, including all the major continents of the world. He traveled to the jungles of Africa as well as great cities such as Rome, London, Paris and Moscow. He told people he had “the greatest job in the world” – interviewing people about what Jesus had done in their lives, then writing stories about it and sharing it with others. Armstrong also led tours to the Holy Land for 16 years in a row, one of them with actor Pat Boone. He did work for places as diverse as a crippled children’s mission in Bethlehem, a Navajo mission for foster children in New Mexico to a Tulsa prison ministry. He wrote materials for some of the best-known evangelists in America such as Rex Humbard, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Baker (PTL), Charles Stanley, Bill Bright, Benny Hinn, Richard Wurmbrand (Voice of the Martyrs), R.W. Schambach and Billy Joe Daugherty (Victory). Armstrong and his family moved back to Tulsa in 1983, working at BMC Advertising. He was an active member of Victory Christian Center for three decades and later attended The Assembly in Broken Arrow. During his lifetime, Armstrong photographed or saw 12 presidents in person, from F.D.R. to George W. Bush. He met and talked with artist Salvador Dali. He even played Santa Claus at Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa for several Christmases. The greatest moments in Armstrong’s blessed life, however, were shared with family. He turned many work trips into vacations, allowing his wife and sons to explore the wonders of the world alongside him. And no matter where he was or who he met, he shared with them the joy that comes in knowing Jesus. Armstrong is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Broken Arrow; son Robert Bruce and wife Kim of Bradenton, Florida; son William Kevin and wife Marcy of Tulsa; son Christopher Scott and wife Kristie of Centerburg, Ohio; son Kerry Crawford of Broken Arrow; son Corey Stephen and wife Gretel of Lake in the Hills, Illinois; grandchildren Brittany Armstrong, Amanda and husband Tony Espino, Ashley and husband Travis Burns, William Tyler, Madison, Sterling, Liam and Owen Armstrong; great-grandchildren Briana Espino and Lucas Espino (on the way); and 101-year-old sister Mary Mimms of New York City; as well as dozens of nieces, nephews and other loving family. Armstrong was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Elmer and Clinton, and sisters Madeline Snyder and Lucy Field. A funeral service for Armstrong has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2016, at Hayhurst Funeral Home Chapel in Broken Arrow. Burial will follow at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens, under the direction of Hayhurst Funeral Home. Viewing will take place Friday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with family there to greet friends from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The family wishes to thank Physician’s Choice Hospice, St. John Broken Arrow hospital, and the Oklahoma Veterans Centers of Norman and Claremore for their loving care during the last year as well as neighbors and friends. “Billy,” “Shoog,” “Dad,” “Poppie,” “Wild Bill” – thanks for the adventures. We’ll see you again in eternity. In the meantime, we will carry on your testimony for Jesus.

Tributes

William C. "Bill" Armstrong

May 9, 1921 - April 28, 2016