Ralph N. Armstrong of Georgetown, DE, passed away peacefully on May 1st, 2023 at the age of 78.

Ralph Nelson Armstrong was born February 22, 1945, in Grand Falls, Newfoundland. He graduated from Port Huron HS in Michigan in 1963, and afterwards attended St Clair College in Port Huron, MI, earning an associates degree. He entered the United States Air Force where he served from 1965-1969 (SGT). The Air Force brought him to Delaware where he found a job at ILC (International Latex Corporation) in 1969. Many astronauts came to ILC to be fitted for their suits and it was part of his job to get them to the “fit room.” This is where he began collecting autographs of all the astronauts he came in contact with. He was very proud of his space collection that included 30 different astronaut autographs, Neil Armstrong being the first.

He later decided to go back to college to become a teacher and graduated from Delaware State University in 1975 with a bachelor of Science in Science Education. He taught Science and Math at Dover Central Middle School from 1975-1990 when he retired.

After his retirement, Ralph built many homes from 1990-2000. His shared enthusiasm for vintage vehicles including his 2004, ’65 and ‘57 (Dusk Rose T-Bird), & a ‘64 ½ Mustang. He was a wood carver of mostly birds and ducks, and was a Jeopardy devotee! He obtained his pilot’s license and loved flying his plane until he was grounded by diabetes. Ralph also volunteered at Millsboro Elementary School where his wife, Eileen worked. He taught ESL to wonderful non English speaking students in Indian River schools and Mathematics at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown, DE. Ralph and Eileen loved to travel and tried to visit as many US National Parks as possible, his favorite being Denali. Ralph was almost never seen without one of his signature Hawaiian shirts! He absolutely adored his 5 grandchildren and they loved his “shaky” hugs!

He is preceded in death by his parents Creighton and Muriel Armstrong of Port Huron, MI and his in-laws Dorothy and Jacob Brumbaugh of Johnstown, PA. He will be missed by his wife of 32 years Eileen Louise Brumbaugh Armstrong formerly of Elton, PA, His children Monica Armstrong Buchman and Scott Armstrong of Magnolia, DE, Elisa (Derrick) Combs of Lago Vista, TX, and Ryan Dimond of Richmond, VA. His brothers William (Mickey) Armstrong, David (Sandra) Armstrong, sisters Jeanie Armstrong Brown and Susan (George) Wells all of Michigan. He was beloved Grandpa to Riley and Mason Buchman, and beloved Papaw/Papa to Zachary, Elana and Skyler Combs. He had many special nieces and nephews and a very dear mother-in-law, Marianne Clary of Felton, DE.

Ralph had requested in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or Parkinson’s Education and Support Group of Sussex County (DE).

Services with Military Honors will be at the chapel of the Delaware Veterans Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro, DE on 5/22/23 at 1:00pm.  Notes of Condolences may be sent to the family at monica.j.buchman@gmail.com

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