Thomas David Armstrong

Thomas David Armstong

Thomas "Tommy" or "Tom"  Armstrong, 75, of Princeton, WV, passed after a short illness, on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family.

Born in Pocahontas, VA, to Bernard and Ruth Armstrong on March 29, 1950. Tommy was raised by a single father in Machine Shop Hollow. He attended school in Pocahontas, VA. In 1968 he joined the US Army, where he was sent to Fort Knox, KY, for basic training. After completion of basic training, Tommy then went to Fort Leonard Wood, MO, for AIT. After training was completed, Tommy was sent to Vietnam where he served valiantly from September 1969-1971, in combat with the 23rd Infantry, Americal Division as a RTO (Radio Man), where he spent most of his time in the Trabong region. While serving, Tommy received the following honors, Combat Wounded Purple Heart, Bronze Star with V Device for valor, 3 Army Commendation Medals with Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Service Medal 60 Device, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Combat Medal, 3 overseas bars, and achieved the rank of Sargent.

Tommy was honorably discharged from the United States Army after three tours. After arriving home, Tommy worked in the coal mines for 15 years. The next 8 years were spent working for the Mercer County W.V. Sheriffs Department. Tommy retired from the Bland County, VA Correctional Center with 28 years of service. Tommy was a member of Johnston Chapel Baptist Church in Princeton, WV. He was also a member of Bluefield, WV Masonic Lodge #85 AF&AM. 

Tom was a family man through and through, he worked hard to provide for his wife and children. In Tom's spare time he could be found in his flower garden, which he took immense pride in, tinkering on old cars in his beloved "safe-haven", his garage, or loving on his grandbabies and great grandbabies. He was a true pillar in the Armstrong family, and will be missed deeply by all who knew him. 

In addition to his parents, Tommy was preceded in death by his brothers, Daniel, Clarence, James Franklin, and Jerry; sisters, Dottie, Patsy, Betty, Nancy, and Judy.

Those left to cherish Tommy's memory are his wife of 54 years, and love of his life, Joy Armstrong, of the home; children, Lewayne Armstrong and wife Jennifer, of Princeton, WV, Eric Armstrong and life partner Bethany Gott, of Kingsport, TN, and Cindy and Gary Leatherman, of Powhatan, VA; grandchildren, Reese and Regan Anderson, Alex Leatherman, Meaghan and Craig Barton, Daniel Shapot, and Brandon and Kaylee Hall; great grandchildren, Everlyee, Lucy, Henry, and Nova; brother, Bobby Armstrong of TN; and sisters, Brenda Altamirano, of AZ, and Debbie Stanstrom, of MS. 

Funeral services will be held, Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM, at The Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor James Walsh officiating. Bluefield Masonic Lodge #85 AF&AM will be performing Masonic Funeral Rites. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton, WV, with the Mercer County Veterans Honor Guard preforming graveside rites. 

A visitation will be held one hour prior to services, from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, at the funeral home. 

Cravens-Shires Funeral Home is serving the Armstrong family.