Hillard Armstrong Jr.

Hillard Armstrong, Jr., 88, of Fort Wayne, parted this life on June 12, 2026.
He was born June 3, 1938 in Uniontown, Alabama to Hillard Armstrong, Sr. 
and Lydia (Dickens) Smith. Hillard moved to Fort Wayne in 2007 to begin life 
with his new bride, Bessie Edmonds-Armstrong. 
As a child, he grew up on an Alabama farm and picked cotton. Not being fond 
of that life, he eventually moved to Florida and worked in a nuclear plant for a 
while. He later became a construction worker, the industry from which he 
retired. 
Hillard committed his life to Christ as a young man. He loved the Lord, was a 
student of the Word, and served as an elder under his pastor at Holiness 
Church of God in Florida. 
Hillard was a foster father, an avid reader, and those who knew him well 
knew how much joy he received from talking and debating about sports and 
politics.
After moving to Fort Wayne, he became active at Greater Christ Temple Apostolic Church, where he drove the church bus for 10 years, sang with the Men 
of Purpose, and attended Sunday School regularly. He was also a member of 
the Fort Wayne Men’s Choir. 
Bessie cared for Hillard as he began to face health challenges in recent years. 
She was with him until the end. 
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Bessie Edmonds-Armstrong of Fort 
Wayne; a step-daughter Rhea Edmonds of Fort Wayne; a grandson Matthias 
Edmonds of Fort Wayne; a special cousin, Theodore Harris of Fort Wayne; a 
special niece, Lydia Armstrong of Miami-Dade, Florida, as well as nieces, 
nephews, cousins, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Hillard Armstrong Sr. and Lydia 
(Dickens) Smith; brothers: Moses, Samuel, Joseph, and William Armstrong; 
sisters: Isabelle Johnson and Bessie Armstrong; a special cousin who was like 
a sister and grew up in the same house with him, Annette Brooks Russell, and 
his first wife, Anniemae Armstrong.

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