William Cobbs Armistead Jr. died peacefully on July 13, 2016, at age 93, in Decatur, Alabama with his family at his side. He was a gentle, liberal soul with a big smile and was embraced by all who met him. He led a very long and meaningful life and will be missed by his family and community.
He was a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Engineering (Class of 1949), and served in World War II, (104th Infantry in Europe), earning the Bronze Star for his valor during combat. He spent the majority of his career with NASA Space Flight Center in Huntsville.While at NASA, he was involved with the famed Gemini, Mercury, and Apollo missions of the sixties and seventies that took our country to the moon. He later served as a payload specialist for the space shuttle missions.
After retirement, he loved spending his time traveling, reading, doing volunteer work, snow skiing, and trying his hand at water sports. He was a longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, The Smith Lake Association, and volunteered weekly for CCC (Community on Church Cooperation) in Decatur.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nancy Emma Butts Armistead, his brother, Robert (Estelle), of Johnson City, Tennessee; his four children, H. Ellis Armistead, of Denver, Colorado, Ellen Rutledge (Joe), of Seattle, Washington, David Armistead (Jane), of Decatur, Georgia, and Steve Armistead (Diane), of Nashville, Tennessee. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Jack Rutledge (Adair), of Seattle, Washington, Rosemary Rutledge, of New York, New York, Melanie Lorick (Cliff), of Atlanta, Georgia; Duncan McDaniel (Lauren) and Spencer McDaniel (Jessica), of Nashville, Tennessee.
Our family acknowledges and sincerely thanks the Riverside Retirement Community in Decatur that took great care of him during the past few months. The selflessness and compassion you provide on a daily basis make you the true heroes of this society.
A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church on August 5, 2016 at 4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations be made to Decatur’s Committee On Church Cooperation, 119 1st Ave. Ne, Decatur, AL 35601.
