Sandra Shepard Armstrong, age 93, died on July 23, 2026. She was born on October 16, 1932, in Cleveland, Ohio to Robert O. and Marjorie Lane Shepard.

She graduated from Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Ohio in 1951. She received a Bachelor of Science in Botany from Cornell University in 1957. Later, she received a Master's in Business from the United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya.

On May 3, 1958, she married Robert E. Armstrong III who she met at Cornell University in an agronomy course. They were married for 67 adventurous years including traveling the world and living overseas for over 20 years. Bob left her side on November 13, 2025.

Sandy and Bob spent the early years as the owners and operators of Summerfield Dairy in Union Township. Their outstanding herd of Golden Guernsey cattle supplied dairy store customers with fresh rich milk. Sandy went to work as the parts manager for Riley Equipment company, a John Deere farm machinery dealer.

In 1980 they both started a second career when Bob went to work for USAID in Kenya, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Sandy worked for the Foreign Agricultural Service in Kenya and as an executive assistant in the American embassies in Botswana and Zimbabwe. She taught English as a Second Language at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe and was a coordinator for the International Executive Service Core, a volunteer group of retired US business executives.

Sandy was a long-time parishioner of Trinity Episcopal Church, serving as a member of the Vestry and the Women's Guild.

Sandy's two daughters, Jill and Heather Armstrong, and grandsons Luca Albisetti (Michaella Hoehn-Saric) and Sasha Armstrong consider themselves extremely fortunate to have had her in their lives.

She loved her family, gardening, bird watching, classical music, horses, travel, and a good glass of Merlot.

The family would like to thank the staff of Celebration Villa in Chippewa and Gateway Hospice for the outstanding care they provided. Special thanks go to ANOVA Home Health Care, especially Damian, Tina and Colin and to Madison for the years of care at home.

When asked what she wanted her obituary to say she replied, "Just say I was Loved." She was definitely loved by her family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 6th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the R. Cunningham Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 2429 Wilmington Road, New Castle. A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 7th at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 212 N. Mill Street, New Castle, PA 16101, with The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church officiating.

A private burial will be at Oak Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Hathaway Brown Sandra and Robert Armstrong Scholarship Fund. Donations can be sent to the following link, hb.edu/donate or by mail to: Hathaway Brown School c/o Advancement 19600 North Park Blvd. Shaker Heights, OH 44122.