Thomas J. Armstrong

ARLINGTON -- Thomas J. Armstrong, 81, passed away on Thursday, January 31, 2013 in Arlington. Funeral: 2:00 p.m. Monday at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington with Ron Smith officiating. Interment: Moore Memorial Gardens, Arlington. Visitation: The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at Wade Family Funeral Home. Memorials: Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, North Central TX Chapter, 2630 W. Freeway, Suite 100, Ft. Worth, TX 76102, alz.org. Tom was born on May 19, 1931 in Franklin, NC to Albert Horne and Mary Carnes Armstrong, and was later adopted by Samuel Armstrong. He served in the U.S. Air Force during 1950-1954 as Staff Sargeant, Security, intelligence and training primarily in Frankford, Germany. Tom received a B.B.A. at Emory University, an M.P.A. at Indiana University, and an L.L.B.-J.D. at John Marshall University. He worked for the U.S. Government, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from 1957-1982 as Supervisory Financial Analyst/Attorney Advisor; aiding state and local governments in urban planning, citizen housing, water/sewer grants, loans, etc. Tom also served as Area Director of HUD in New Orleans from 1971-1977. He was Southwest Regional Administrator, Fort Worth, responsible for 1500 people in multi states from 1977 to his retirement in 1982. Tom became a partner in Simon Anisman law firm in Ft. Worth as corporate bankruptcy attorney participating in Hunt Oil Company bankruptcy in the 90's. He retired in 1996. Survivors: Loving wife of 54 years, Joyce Ashcraft Armstrong; daughters, Angela Driskill and husband, Kent, Alison Vestal and husband, Jim; grandchildren, Matt Harness, Jake Harness, Sara Driskill, Chris Cogswell and Tyler Vestal.