William “Bill” C. Armstrong, Major, USAF (Retired)
September 18, 1924 – May 16, 2013

William C. Armstrong, Maj. USAF (Ret) made his final flight on May 16, 2013. “Bill” was born September 18, 1924 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, son of the late Edward L. and Louise Garis Armstrong.

Bill was a patriot; one month after D-Day he joined the Marine Corps at age 17 and served his country in the Pacific Rim during WWII.

In 1948 Bill joined the United States Air Force as an Aviation Cadet. He attended Aviation School to become a fixed winged pilot to follow his dream of flying. He qualified and flew B-25, B-17, T-6, C-45, and C-47. He Instructor qualified on the T-6 and B-25 and was Flight Examiner on the B-25 Bomber. In 1956 Bill attended Helicopter School and was trained on and flew H-13, H-19, SH-21 and SC-54 helicopters. He was assigned helicopter rescue duty flying the H-21, “flying banana”. He was very proud of his duty as a rescue pilot and treasured memories of those he rescued. He retired from the USAF in 1966.

In 1954 Bill married LaVonne Taylor, they had a daughter Marcia Louise and son William Charles Jr. The family was stationed at numerous duty locations and loved the challenges of moving to new places. He joined the Civil Service in 1967 continuing to serve his country for 20 years while moving his family to exciting locations in the US and Europe. In 1988 he was widowed.

Bill renewed his love of flying single engine aircraft. He owned six different airplanes in the following 20 years.

In 1991 Bill and Sandra Anne Sparks married. Their interests included Saturday morning flights for $100 lunches, ‘snowbirding’ via motor home travels and residences in Arizona and Puget Sound. They traveled locales in US and cruising. Golfing was a life’s passion.

With loving thoughts and cherished memories;
Wife, Sandra Anne Sparks Armstrong, daughter Marcia Armstrong and husband Theodore Reed of Las Vegas, NV, son William C. Armstrong Jr. and wife Gail of Hollywood, CA, granddaughter Adeline Armstrong and husband Allen Harrison of Los Angeles, CA, granddaughter Emily Armstrong of Los Angeles, CA. Extended family, sister in law, nephews and nieces.

Think of Bill the next time you see an airplane flying.