Obituary of Sally Armstrong

Sally Millar Armstrong, 90, died peacefully at home on April 2, 2015, in Kalona, Iowa, after a brief struggle with cancer. Sally was born June 15, 1924, in Marietta, Georgia, the daughter of John Robert Millar and Sallie Samantha (Anderson) Millar of Marietta. She was the youngest of eight children. Sally graduated from Marietta High School in 1941, and attended the University of Alabama, where she studied textiles and fashion design, and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi. She was an airline stewardess for Eastern Airlines before marrying Robert Hawkins Armstrong of Harrisburg, Illinois in 1946. Her husband was a 1944 West Point graduate and career Air Force officer, and Sally became a consummate officer's wife, following him to Guam, Naples, Italy, and many other postings before settling in Shalimar, Florida. In the last eight years of her life she moved to Kalona, Iowa and became an active member of the congregation at Shiloh Church. In addition to raising her family of five, Sally also worked as a Red Cross volunteer for over 50 years, becoming a Disaster Records and Reports Officer for hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, and floods. She was still being called out on disasters when she was 79, finally retiring in 2004. Sally will be especially remembered for her generous loving spirit, her love of God and His Word, and her quick wit and enthusiasm for life. Sally Armstrong is survived by four children: Susan Alison Ellison (Ketron), Sally Melissa Schiek (Donald), Leslie Jo Smith (Joseph), and Robert Alan Armstrong (Kellie). She has seven grandchildren: Robert Trent Jett (Bethany); Saralyn Schiek; Sara Lesley Ellison (Matthew); Edward Matthew Schiek (Aimee); Callie Armstrong Bryan, Catherine Elizabeth Armstrong, and Collin Michael Armstrong. In addition, she has one great grandchild: Rose Grygorcewicz Ellison. She is also survived by twelve nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. Sally was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 46 years, Col. Robert Hawkins Armstrong (d. 1992), a daughter, Elizabeth (d. 1953), and a daughter, Amy Lynn Armstrong, (d. 2006). A memorial service will be held for Sally Armstrong on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 2 PM at Shiloh Church, 100 Shiloh Drive, Kalona, IA, 52247. Relatives and friends are welcome at this celebration of her life, which will be followed by a reception at Shiloh. Her cremation was arranged by Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services of Iowa City, Iowa. She will be interred at a later date with her husband, Col. Robert H. Armstrong, in a private family ceremony at the National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for the Shiloh University Library are welcome, and can be sent in her name to Shiloh University, 100 Shiloh Road, Kalona, IA, 52247. Education was a passion for both Sally and her late husband, and she wished to support the development of the new University library.