William (“Bill”) Edward Armstrong, born of Albert Earnest Armstrong and Anna Murray Armstrong on November 22, 1938 peacefully passed away on December 4, 2020.

A graduate of Cleveland Heights High school in January 1957,  Bill then became a student at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.  He joined Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business.  Upon graduation, he started his commission in United States Army with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Bill served two years in Germany in the Army Signal Corp. followed by several years in the Army Reserve. He was offered a promotion to Captain but decided to end his military service as a First Lieutenant.

On June 20, 1964 Bill married Judith (“Judy”) Lynn Smith, also a graduate of Ohio University and a grade schoolteacher. Later, he was admitted to the Moritz College of Law, at The Ohio State University and graduated with honors in June 1967 with a Juris Doctorate. Bill truly enjoyed the distinction, tradition, and comradery of being a Buckeye.

After starting a family in their first home in South Euclid, Ohio, Bill and Judy built a home on six wooded acres in Chardon, Ohio overlooking the Chagrin River valley where they raised their family and resided for the rest of Bill’s life. In his free time, when Bill wasn’t attending his sons wrestling meets or engaged in activities with church, family and friends, he enjoyed do-it-yourself home improvement projects and often could be found spending time enjoying the outdoors. Bill began and conducted his litigation defense law practice for over 35 years in Cleveland, Ohio, as a partner in a few different law firms. After retiring from Buckley, King & Bluso, Bill continued practicing law in Cleveland with colleagues, and then finished his career as a sole practitioner in offices in Willoughby, Ohio to be closer to his home in Chardon. What began as a desire to own a canoe, throughout the years Bill fulfilled his dream of building and owning a cottage on one of many thousands of islands on Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay, in Ontario, Canada. He and Judy vacationed there each summer with their family on Pentecost Island and shared the natural beauty with friends. Bill and Judy practiced their Christian faith and developed many life-long friendships at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Chardon, Ohio. Bill served on the church Vestry and wore many hats. In his retirement Bill spent time outdoors, with the church, family and friends. To stay in shape, meet new friends, and engage in friendly competition in his retirement, Bill discovered developed a love for playing pickleball at the Geauga YMCA. Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judith Smith Armstrong, his three sons, William Armstrong, John (Kathleen) Armstrong, and James (Christine) Armstrong, and his five grandchildren: William Armstrong, Megan Armstrong, Paige Armstrong, Elliott Armstrong and Laura Armstrong.

A Funeral Service honoring Bill will be held at St. Luke Episcopal Church (11519 Wilson Mills Rd. Chardon, Ohio) Saturday, December 12, 2020, at 11:00 am. We request that donations be made in Bill’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Research at www.michaeljfox.org, or to St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Chardon, Ohio

Information and condolences on-line at www.burrservice.com.