Ivan Craig Armstrong

Ivan Craig Armstrong, the beloved son of Josephine E. Armstrong and the late Virgil Ray Gardner, Jr. was born May 14, 1966. He departed his life here on earth on May 29, 2015 at his home in Richmond, VA surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by his aunt Lula “Mommy” Gardner, and grandfather Joseph W. Armstrong. His life began in Snow Hill, MD where he attended the public schools of Worcester County. In 1979 the family moved to Parksley, VA and attended the public schools of Accomack County. Upon graduating from Arcadia High in 1984 he enrolled in Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA and graduated in 1989 with a BA degree in Communications / Broadcasting. Ivan began his spiritual growth at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Snow Hill, MD. Upon moving to Virginia he worshipped and was baptized at Metompkin Baptist Church in Parksley, VA. At the time of his death he was a member of St. Peter Baptist Church in Glen Allen, VA. He was very committed to community and civic involvement and upon graduation from college he was initiated into the Xi Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Ivan remained enthusiastic and engaged in fraternal life until his death. Upon leaving the Eastern Shore, he was later to reside in Raleigh, NC and Stone Mountain, GA but it was Richmond, VA that became his “second” home. Ivan used his communication skills for many years as a Sales Representative working for major corporations such as Verizon and at the time his health began to fail he was employed in sales by Tyco Securities. He will be remembered for his sport interests and affiliations. As a youth he played basketball, baseball, and football and played competitively throughout middle and high school. During college he fell in love with golf and always enjoyed the competition “on the greens” with his “golfing buddies” along the East Coast. He was a die-hard football “Rams” fan, a die-hard VUU Panthers fan and Ivan rarely missed a CIAA tournament or VUU homecoming. In addition to playing sports, he coached in the Chamberlayne Youth Basketball League and was a fully engaged parent on the sideline at Henrico youth basketball and football games. He had a strong work ethic and was dedicated to his family and any endeavor he set out to complete and thus positively affected the lives of many people. In September 2001, Ivan and Carol Carson were married and two sons resulted from this union. He leaves in mourning his wife, Carol; daughter Chelsea M. Armstrong of Hampton, VA; sons, Joseph and Sabian Armstrong of Richmond, VA; mother, Josephine Armstrong of Parksley, VA; brothers, Rodney (Tara) Armstrong of Snow Hill, MD and Jared Armstrong of Fruitland, MD; maternal grandmother, Emma Waters of Salisbury, MD; paternal grandparents Virgil and Lulabelle Gardner, Sr. of Fruitland, MD; aunts, Yvonne Armstrong of Lithonia, GA, Deborah Smith of Wilmington, DE, Cheryl Dorsey of Salisbury, MD, Patricia Gardner of Fruitland, MD, Idella (Joseph) Drummond of Greenwood, DE, and Vanessa (Jessie) Gillette of Woodbridge, VA; uncles, Michael (Edith) Armstrong of Norfolk, VA, Duane Armstrong of Snow Hill, MD, Wayne (Debbie) Gardner of Salisbury, MD, and William (Jeanette) of Princess Anne, MD; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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Ivan Craig Armstrong

May 14, 1966 - May 29, 2015