Dan Armstrong 1938-2021

 

Daniel Armstrong III

1938-2021

Austin - Daniel Lewis Armstrong III, was born in Houston, TX, on July 16, 1938, the only child of Daniel and Phebe Armstrong Jr., and passed away in Austin, TX on October 14, 2021 at the age of 83.

He was preceded in death by his eldest son, Stephen D. Armstrong in January 2021.

He is survived by his loving wife Helen M. Armstrong, married for 57 years; his son, David Nak Armstrong (Walter Marcantoni) of Austin, TX; his son Sean P. Armstrong (Andrea), his grandchildren Nick, Keira and William of Anchorage, AK; his daughter, Sarah C. Waltz (Keith), his grandchildren Luke and Jaxon of Spring, TX; his daughter-in-law Annette Armstrong, his grandchildren Katherine (Mitch Palermo) and Daniel (Marien) of San Antonio, TX.

Dan graduated from Lamar High School in Houston, TX in 1956 where he played violin in the school orchestra competing at the state level. Upon graduation he was accepted to the Honors Plan II Liberal Arts Program at The University of Texas at Austin where he received a B.A. in 1960, at the same time continuing his violin studies. After undergraduate school, Dan attended the University of Texas School of Law for one year before deciding to join the US Navy.

Dan received his Naval Officer commission in 1961 after attending the Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. He then completed 3 years of active duty stationed on the USS Coral Sea Aircraft Carrier, which took him to numerous international ports-of-call, including Sydney, Australia, where he met Helen. He continued serving in the US Naval Reserves and retired as a US Navy Commander.

After completing active duty, Dan and Helen married in Honolulu, HI on August 15, 1964, and they moved back to Austin where Dan graduated from the University of Texas School of Law. In 1967, Dan and Helen moved with their 1-year-old son, Stephen, to El Paso, Texas where they raised their family and lived for 36 years before eventually retiring in Austin in 2003. Dan built a successful legal practice in El Paso, primarily as a personal injury plaintiffs' litigator. Prior to private practice, Dan served as Assistant County Attorney for El Paso County and even tried his hand at politics, narrowly losing a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 16th District of Texas in 1972.

Despite choosing a more "practical" professional career in law, Dan never gave up his passion for playing the violin. In the 1980s, he was a performing member and President of the El Paso Pro Musica chamber music organization. He later played in quartets with friends and during masses at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in El Paso and St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Austin. His violin scales and arpeggios could be heard on most nights at home. Dan enjoyed golfing in his free time and was also an avid reader and scholar of history, archaeology, and theology. He understood how important it was to pursue one's passions in life and similarly supported his children's passions and pursuits.

Dan was a loving, devoted, kind, forgiving, and generous father, husband, and friend, and a faithful member of the Catholic Church. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed.

Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Hospice of Austin in Austin, TX or Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Austin. There will be a Celebration of Life Mass for him in Austin, TX at St. John Neumann Catholic Church at 5455 Bee Cave Rd, Austin, TX 78746 on December 21, 2021 at 11:00am, reception to follow if permitted.