Obituary of Don Armstrong

Springville Don Armstrong, 90, of 9647 S. Harrodsburg Road, Springville, died at 7:26 am on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at the Stonebridge Health Campus in Bedford. Born January 30, 1918 in Owensburg, IN, he was the son of Felix and Eula (Rush) Armstrong. He married Rose Bridwell in 1941 and she survives. Don was a sixth generation cattleman, farmer and educator. He graduated from Springville High School with the class of 1936 and he received his teaching credential in 1939 from Indiana University. While attending college, he delivered milk to Johnsons Creamery in the mornings then changed clothes at the Graham Hotel to attend his classes. In the evening, he delivered ice to rural residences. After graduation, Don taught 5th and 6th grades at Springville for six months and then he taught 5th and 6th grades at the Dive School. Don was a contractor at NWSC Crane for four years. He returned to teaching 5th through 8th grades at Needmore for four years and then taught 5th grade at Smithville Elementary for five years. After three years as the Head Teacher at Harrodsburg School, he retired from the Monroe County Community School Corporation to take a job with the Department of Agriculture/Farm Service Agency in Monroe County. Don worked for the FSA for seventeen years. Throughout his career, he continued farming and raising cattle. Don was in the delegation sent to Missouri to research cattle sales. Upon return, he helped organize the Springville Feeder Auction where he served as the first sales manager and was one of the first to sell cattle on video in 1992. Don wrote a weekly column for the Herald-Times newspaper, Old Farmer Don for six years. In addition, he was named Conservation Farmer of the Year in Monroe County in 1991 and Monroe County Farm Family of the Year in 2000. He was a member of the Soil Conservation Board for six years and served on the planning commission of the Southern Monroe Water Corporation which helped rural residents get city water. He was a past member of the Monroe Reservoir Waste Control Board and a current member of the Harrodsburg Lions Club and Monroe County Farm Bureau. Don was a member of the Popcorn Christian Church where he served as a deacon for ten years and an elder for fifty years. Survivors include his wife, Rose, of Springville; two sons, Joe H. Armstrong and his wife, Trudy, Alan D. Armstrong and his wife, Sharon A.; grandchildren, Jeffrey H. Armstrong, Darren Armstrong and his wife, April, Amy Spires and her husband, Cam, Dr. Ashley B. Armstrong and her husband, Heath Prince, Allison Armstrong, Marisa Donovan and her husband, Brant, Doug Wilson and his wife, Lisa and; great grandchildren, Caden Dale Spires, Emma, Katie and Hayden Wilson, Sawyer and Chaney Donovan; a son-in-law, Steve Hassfurder; step-grandchildren, Dr. Holly Cooper and her husband, Dr. Jason Cooper and Lorie Hassfurder; step-great grandchildren, Mikayla, Caitlyn, Camden and Colton Cooper. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Harry T. Armstrong; one daughter, Leslie Armstrong Wilson Hassfurder; one son, Mark Edward Armstrong (in infancy). Funeral Information Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 am on Saturday, September 27th from the Elmwood Chapel of the Day & Carter Mortuary with Phil McDonald and Thurston Scott officiating. Burial will follow in Lowder Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, September 26th at the Day & Carter Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends consider memorial contributions be made to the Lowder Cemetery Association, the Harrodsburg Lions Club or the Popcorn Christian Church. Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book and light a candle in memory of Don at www.daycarter.com View Video Tribute