ARMBRUST, CONSTANCE W., obit 100 years old
ARMBRUST, CONSTANCE W., formerly of Elm Street, Jamestown, passed away on March 7, 2008 at the South County Nursing Center. Connie had celebrated her 100th birthday on November 7, 2007. She was the wife of the late Henry N. Armbrust.
She was born on November 7, 1907 in Concord, NH the daughter of the late Archie and Emily (Dearborn) Warren. She received her formal art training at the Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences.
Over the years Connie studied art as well as decorative painting with various local artists. During her career she worked in oils, watercolor, and pen and ink. Connie was also well known for cutting silhouettes at church and craft fairs around New England.
In 1957, Connie created the design for the Jamestown Tercentenary Celebration. In the late 1950's she participated in the restoration of the Jamestown Fire Department's 1854 LaFrance pumper. In 1976, the Bank of Newport commissioned Connie to paint a picture of 'Jamestown's Waterfront, circa 1910' which is displayed in the bank's Jamestown branch.
She is well known for her set of mugs with Jamestown scenes, as well as tiles and notecards. In 1984, a set of her mugs was presented to President Ronald Reagan at the White House.
Connie was a communicant of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. She was involved in many community organizations and art associations; including the Quononoquott Garden Club, Conanicut Grange, Conanicut Island Art Association, South County Art Museum, Newport Art Museum, Jamestown Historical Society, Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association, and Daughters of the American Revolution
She is survived by her son, Peter H. Armbrust of Murrysville, PA; her daughter and son-in-law Linda A. & George Warner of Jamestown; grandchildren Wendy Harvey and her husband, Paul, and Melissa Burrows and her husband, Edward, their children Jessica and Andrew of Jamestown; Christopher Warner and his wife, Thea, their children Aren and Corbin of Odenton, MD; Heather Berardinelli and her husband, Patrick, their children Nicole and Jacob of No. Huntingdon, PA, and David Armbrust and his wife, Rhonda, of Daisyville, PA.
Having always been a supporter of organ donation, and a 55-year breast cancer survivor, Connie has donated her body to Brown University Medical School for research.
A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Matthew's Church, Jamestown. Donations may be made in her memory to the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association, or to the Jamestown School Art Department for supplies and programs.
Published in The Providence Journal on 3/11/2008.