Mary Marjorie Armstrong

Marge (or Margie) was born in Columbus, Ohio to Virginia and Kenneth Watts. She attended West High School where she met many of her life-long friends. At the age of 16 she said ‘yes’ to a date with Milton Armstrong, a young man she knew from her church. Milton quickly became the love of her life. They married in 1942 before her new husband went overseas to serve the US Army in WWII.

Following the war, she became the loving mother of three children. She supported her husband as he built a successful career as a land developer, builder and realtor in Upper Arlington, Ohio, where they resided. Marge and Milt were both active members of Northwest United Methodist Church, where a memorial garden was established in Milt’s name in the year 2000.

Marge was an artist who took deep pleasure in noticing the beauty and mysteries of the natural world. As a young girl she would render detailed sketches of Hollywood stars, reflecting the glamour of the silver screen.

She was tender, vulnerable but at the same time strong, allowing her Christian faith to guide her. She was a devoted sister to her two siblings, Eileen Watts Griffith of Bradenton, Florida and Ralph Watts of San Francisco, California, both of whom predeceased her in recent years.

Marge is survived by her daughters Karen Armstrong and Marcia Armstrong-Burrows (Wilson Burrows), of Columbus, Ohio, and her son David Armstrong (Alice McDermott) of Bethesda, Maryland. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Mindy Hazelbaker Dixon (Derick Dixon) of Austin, Texas, Will Armstrong of New York City, Eames Armstrong of Bethesda, Maryland,, Ruth Burrows (Carlton Folster) of St. Paul, Minnesota, Patrick Armstrong (Amanda Broll-Armstrong) of New York City, and two adorable great-grand daughters, Mina and Lilliana Dixon.

Marge’s life with us ended on December 31, 2023 at her daughter’s home in Upper Arlington. We are all blessed by her many years, her dedication to her family and friends, and to the example she left for others to follow.

May she continue to be blessed in God’s house.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Northwest United Methodist Memorial Garden

5200 Riverside Drive

Columbus, OH 43220

A celebration of life will be held in the Memorial Garden, Spring 2024

For details, please contact:

Marcia Armstrong, [email protected]