Beatrice J. (Armstrong) Rockwell

Beatrice Justina (Armstrong) Rockwell, 76, of Troy, PA, went home to be with her Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, March 5, 2016, from St. Mary’s hospital in Madison, WI, with her husband, son, and daughter-in-law by her side.

Bea was born September 16, 1939 in Roscoe, Nebraska, daughter of Claude and Violet (Weeks) Armstrong. When she was 5 years old, her family relocated to Tucson, Arizona. She graduated in 1959 from the Tucson School for the Deaf and Blind, and from Gallaudet University in 1964. She was married for 51 years to Robert Wilbur Rockwell, her soul mate and love of her life.

For 4 years, Bea taught typing and mechanical drawing at a Christian high school in Glen Burnie, MD. She also worked for 10 years as a Traffic Analyst for the US government in Fort Meade, MD. However, for most of her life she was an organized, gracious, and hospitable homemaker for her family, guests, and anyone who needed a place to stay for however long they needed. Later in life, she and Bob loved to host Memorial Day family gatherings at their home in Troy. These gatherings were a big highlight of her year. She enjoyed sewing, genealogy, gardening, and exploring the United States as she and Bob made their many trips cross-country. As a young mother, she taught a Sunday school class of deaf children, whom she recruited and transported each week.

Bea put her faith in Jesus when she was about 5 years old at a Child Evangelism Fellowship 5-day club taught by her older sister Bethel. She always talked about the Lord and encouraged her friends and family to live for Him. She and Bob led their sons to the Lord, both of whom married godly women, and all 11 of her grandchildren love and follow Jesus as well.

Bea is survived by her husband Bob, her brother Norman Armstrong, brothers-in-law Jim (Peg) Rockwell and Phil (Can) Rockwell, her sisters-in-law Jane Guinan and Martha (Doug) Greer, her sons Wayne (Jenny) Rockwell and James (Nosoe) Messineo, and her grandchildren Jay (Ivy) Messineo, Annah (Justin) Bartz, Tim Rockwell, Jordan Rockwell, Dylan Rockwell, Emily Rockwell, Austin Rockwell, Ryan Rockwell, Megan Rockwell, Ethan Rockwell, and Ella Justina Anne Rockwell, and all of her dear nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Robert Armstrong, Betty Fairfield, Albert Armstrong, Bethel Watrous, Samuel Armstrong, Newton Armstrong, Claudene Armstrong, and Stephen Armstrong,

Family and friends are welcome to call from 10:00-11:00 am on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the Gerald W. Vickery, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. 1093 West Main Street Troy, PA.  The funeral service to honor Bea’s life will be held at the conclusion of the visitation at 11:00 am at the funeral home with Jim Solomon, Bea’s nephew, officiating. Burial will follow in Bradford County Memorial Park, Towanda, PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Baptist Church Planters c/o Galilean Baptist Church 79 Jaynes Drive, Fairmont, WV 26554.  www.bcpusa.org.