Judith Carol Armstrong was born October 15, 1945, to Neville Eugene and Juanita White in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She departed this life May 30, 2024, at the age of 78.
She graduated from McLain High School in Tulsa—hating math but loving words. She later received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Tulsa.
It makes sense, then, that she met the love of her life, Thomas Armstrong, in a library. She said, “He leaned back in his chair and started to talk to me, and that was it.” On August 19, 1966, they married, committing to move through the joys and hardships of life together. And that is, in the end, exactly what they did.
From this union were born two daughters, Allie and Sara. Judith parented them in many ways unconventionally, but she loved them unconditionally. She taught them the necessity of kindness. She taught them to accept things (and people) that they could not change but not to turn away from their responsibility to the things they could.
In her 78 years, Judith did many things. She built homes and refinished furniture with her husband. She was a stay at home mom, an English teacher, a home health aide, a medical records clerk. She was a finder of bargains and a lover of antiques. She rescued animals and had many, many pets—the most recent being her dogs Leroy and Florence. She was a lifelong poet who shared her words with only a chosen few. She stumbled through life, like we all do, trying to do her best and failing more than she would have liked. She was perfectly imperfect and so loved.
She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Thomas Armstrong; two daughters, Allie Smith and spouse Glynn, Sara Armstrong and spouse Will Spotts; one sister, Shirley Hastings; one half sister, Neville Bramlett, five grandchildren, Ben Armstrong, Rachel Smith, Jacob Smith, Samuel Spotts, and Lucas Spotts; two great grandchildren, Oliver Gutierrez Smith and Leonardo Gutierrez Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents. As per Judith’s wishes, no services will be held. You may share your condolences with the Armstrong family at www.matherlydavisfuneralhome. com.
