Helen Virginia Armstrong

Helen Virginia Armstrong, 88, of Carlsbad, NM, passed away Monday, February 18, 2013 at Carlsbad Medical Center. Visitation will be 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Friday, February 22, 2013 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. A Graveside Service is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2013, 10:00 AM, at Carlsbad Cemetery with Fr. Cyprian Uline, OFM, Conv. officiating. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Helen Virginia Armstrong was born August 15, 1924 in McAlester, Oklahoma to Charles Joseph and Hazel May (Kessler) Goodspeed. She moved to Carlsbad in 1952 with her family. Helen married William Arley Armstrong, Sr. on August 29, 1942. She worked as a nurse's aid at Lakeview Nursing Home, and as a sales clerk at Mitchell's Music and Radio Shack. She earned her nurses aid certificate at St. Francis Medical Center. After retirement in 1985 she went to work in the nursery at Hillcrest Baptist Church for many years. Helen volunteered at St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary, AARP, a lifetime member of VFW Auxiliary in McAlester, OK. She enjoyed reading and quilting. Helen was a member of St. Edward's Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985; grandson, Justin Lujan; 1 sister and 12 brothers. Survivors are two sons: William Arley Armstrong, Jr. and wife, Jeanette of San Antonio, TX; Robert Warren Armstrong and wife, Sheila of Carlsbad, NM; 14 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; brother, Bernard Goodspeed of Seattle, Washington; and two sisters: Margaret Nalley of Clifton Forge, VA, Mary Liz Giandrone of McAlester, Oklahoma. Honorary pallbearers are her grandsons and great-grandchildren. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.