LT. COL. ROBERT ELZEY "BOB" ARMBRUST, USAF (RETIRED)
May 16, 1933-May 18, 2015
Lt. Col. Robert Elzey (Bob) Armbrust, USAF (retired), 82, of 111 Robin Lake Drive, Dudley, N.C., died May 18 at the Brian Center.
He was born May 16, 1933, in Columbus, Ohio.
He was predeceased by his grandparents, Charlie and Mellie Moore Armbrust and John Joseph and Lona Carter Elzey; his parents, Karle Hogue Armbrust and Margaret Irene Armbrust; elder brother, Mel Karle Armbrust all of Columbus, Ohio; and his good friend and companion, Ruth Hoffmen of Goldsboro, N.C.
During his elementary and junior high school years, he was an active member of the Columbus, Ohio, YMCA, where he swam, played chess and attended summer camps.
From ages 12 to 15, he delivered newspapers to 250 customers for the Columbus Dispatch, winning contests for selling insurance and increasing newspaper circulation; after which he remained continuously employed part-time in retail sales, food service, construction labor, office administration and sales management until graduating from college and entering the USAF.
During his teenage years, he was a member of the International Order of DeMolay, earning the Chevalier degree and serving as master councilor of the Aladdin Chapter in Columbus, Ohio.
He graduated from North High School, Columbus, Ohio, in June 1951 and from Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, before accepting an Air Force ROTC commission as a USAF Second Lieutenant in June 1955.
He completed Air Force pilot training at Graham AFB, Fla. and Laughlin AFB, Texas, graduating and earning his pilot wings in January 1957.
He served on active duty in the USAF as a pilot and staff officer until retiring in November 1975.
He was responsible for the development and supervision of the training program and had extensive experience as an instructor pilot and classroom instructor.
Aircrafts he flew included: RF-4C; H-19; T-28; T-29; T-33; T-34; C-47; C-54; C-124; HC-47; U3/1027; U 61L20; 0-2; PA-28; and Cessnas 150, 172, 172RG and T-41B.
His flight experience included, pilot single and multi-engine military and civil aircrafts; 3,789 total flight hours; 3,107.9 hours as pilot-in-command; 765.9 hours as flight instructor; and qualification and experience as a certified flight instructor.
While on active duty he served in Germany, Turkey, Korea, England and Vietnam; earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Utah; and taught classes for the University of South Carolina, Golden Gate University and Florida Institute of Technology.
His military decorations, medals, badges, commendations, citations and campaign missions awarded or authorized include the following: Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal First Class.
After military retirement, he worked as a graduate teaching assistant in marketing at Ohio State University and later as an AFJROTC aerospace science instructor in Warren, Ohio Public Schools and Southern Wayne High School, Dudley, N.C.
He began a long association at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at SJAFB, N.C. in 1982, beginning as a part-time adjunct instructor, later serving as a part-time center academic advisor, full-time academic advisor and full-time center faculty chair before serving as a full-time director of academics from 2006 to 2012.
His volunteer and community service activities included the following: USAF Academy admissions liaison officer; Civil Air Patrol, including several years as commander of the Goldsboro, N.C. Composite Squadron; regional resource person for the National Air and Space Museum; National Council Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers board member; Trinity Episcopal Camp and Conference Center vestry member; Saint Francis Episcopal Church, Goldsboro, N.C., eucharistic visitor; and lay reader Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church, Goldsboro, N.C.; Air Force Association member; USAF Academy Association of Graduates member; Order of Daedalians member; Military Officers Association of America member; American Legion member; and the National Association for Uniformed Services and Alliance of Retired Military member.
He is survived by his former spouse, Mary Armbrust, of North Palm Beach, Fla.; his four children, son, John Armbrust (Christine), and granddaughter, Martine Filion of Jupiter, Fla., grandsons, Jonathan (Brianna), Nathaniel, Ben (Connie) and children, Callie and Vivan, all of Jupiter, Fla.; his daughter and caregiver, Leesa Henricksen, grandsons, Scott Henricksen (Ashley) and daughter, Alaina and Christopher Henricksen, all of Dudley, N.C.; son, Christopher Armbrust (Paula) and grandchildren, Nicholas and Alexander Darnell, Lynzy Schartz, Alexandra, Anya, Nicholas Armbrust and Christopher Armbrust of Owensboro, Ky.; and son, Dirk Karl Armbrust (Sara), grandson, Karl Armbrust, and granddaughter, Anna Armbrust of Coppell, Texas.
He is also survived by granddaughters, Nicole (Kim) Armbrust and their sons, Jack and Henry, and daughter, Ellen, of Asheville, N.C, Brenna Armbrust and daughters, Talulah and Isabel, of Tampa, Fla.; a nephew, Kenneth Armbrust (Susan); grand-nephews, Caleb, Micah, Josiah and Judah Armbrust; grand-nieces, Hanna, Alezah, Esther, Emma and Ruthann Armbrust all of Galena, Ohio; four nieces, Christina Armbrust of Galena, Ohio, Sandra Armbrust of Newburyport, Mass., Melissa Armbrust of Venice, Fla., and Joy Armbrust and grandnephew, Eric Armbrust, of Northport, Maine.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. Interment will be held in the St. Stephen's Columnbarium.
Family members will greet friends in the St. Stephen's parish hall following the funeral service.
The family is in the care of Howell Funeral Home and Crematory in Goldsboro.
Visit the Facebook page "Remembering Lt. Col. Robert Armbrust" (created by Christie Mayo).
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on May 24, 2015 1:03 PM