Walter Thurston Armstrong

Walter Thurston Armstrong was born in Richmond County, North Carolina on December 3, 1938. He passed away on July 8, 2024, at the Gilchrist Center in Towson, MD. Walter was the only son of the late William Thurston Armstrong and Hattie Bertha Barner Armstrong. His hardworking parents and his four sisters at the Piney Grove Baptist Church in Richmond County, North Carolina brought him up in the Christian faith. They instilled in him the core values that would guide him in his later life. Walter accepted Jesus Christ as his savior at an early age. After moving to Baltimore in 1957, Walter started his career as an entrepreneur at the Pantry Pride grocery chain, where he began as a porter and eventually became part of the store’s management team due to his strong work ethic. In December 1993, he changed his career and became the supervisor of courier services for Correctional Medical Services, the medical provider for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. As a diligent worker and entrepreneur, Walter started his courier service, Armstrong Courier Services, in December 1995. He secured contracts not only with the State of Maryland Correctional System but also with major laboratories such as LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics. Due to declining health, he retired for the last time in 2007.

Walter is survived by his wife of fifty-two years  Joan Collins Armstrong, his brother-in-law, and Pastor Ronald T.

Collins, and a large host of nephews, nieces, cousins, special friends, and church family. He was preceded in death by sisters Maxine Terry (Elias), Lucille Watkins (Alvin), Margo Evans (Eugene), Shirley Harrington (Paul),

sister-in-law Gladys Smith, and Brother-in-law, George H. Collins (Hazel). Walter has been a member of Johnsville United Methodist Church since 1972. He served as a Trustee, Finance Committee Chairperson, and choir member. throughout his years of dedicated service.