Harold Eugene Armstrong, 79, of St. Cloud, FL, passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Celebrations of life will be on Thursday, July 10, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church (EPC) in Orlando, with a reception to follow in the church’s King Parlor. On Saturday, July 26, the second celebration will be at First Christian Church in Columbus, IN with visitation from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and the service at 11:00 a.m. A private graveside interment will be in Letts, IN at the Mount Aerie Cemetery.
Harold was born in Greensburg, Indiana on January 23, 1946, to Alfred and Rebecca Armstrong. Growing up in a farm family, he first demonstrated leadership through 4-H and further developed those skills on the farm, where family, work, and play were meshed together. Upon graduation from Columbus High School, he received a four-year Kroger Scholarship to Purdue University in Lafayette, IN to study veterinary medicine.
Inspired by a call to Christian vocation early in his freshman year, Harold entered Cincinnati Bible Seminary to pursue a ministerial degree. A prominent campus leader, his roles included: President of the Student Council and World Mission Volunteers, Resident Assistant, and Preacher at South Bethany Christian Church in South Bethany, Indiana. He graduated in 1968 with a B.A degree in Bible, later completing a M.A. degree in Practical Ministries.
In 1968, he married Marilyn Morse of St. Petersburg, FL. With the family farm lifestyle deeply ingrained, Harold and Marilyn embarked on a vocational career to share ministry.
Harold’s ministry roles:
● Youth Minister — Central Christian Church, Tampa, FL (1968-1970)
● Youth Minister — First Christian Church, Clearwater, FL (1971-1973)
● Senior Pastor — First Christian Church, Cape Coral, FL (1973-1975)
● Alumni Director — Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary, Cincinnati, OH (1976-1978)
● Senior Pastor — First Christian Church, Columbus, IN (1978-1996)
● Senior Pastor — First Christian Church, Clearwater, FL (1996-2002)
● President — Florida Christian College, Kissimmee, FL (2002-2009)
● Senior Interim Pastor and Associate — Journey Christian Church, Apopka, FL (2009-2015)
● Lead Chaplain —Nemours Children’s Hospital, Lake Nona, FL (2016-2019)
Servant Leader
Harold’s leadership lived in the calm way he listened, the steady way he served, and the wisdom he gently offered when others needed it. Harold led not with ego, but with empathy. He was a pastor by nature as well as vocation, valuing people and principles over protocols and processes.
His peers admired his strength of leadership coupled with compassion. Reflecting on a crisis, a church elder said, “Harold led us through a land mine, and there were no casualties.” As Lead Chaplain at Nemours Children’s Hospital, he “sucked the drama out of the moment,” enabling the medical team to work more effectively. His presence calmed. His faith steadied those around him. Never needing to prove himself, he simply showed up — with humility and conviction.
Always involved in the larger community, his leadership acumen was used in roles like:
● Alexander Christian Foundation – Board of Directors, Kissimmee, FL
● Gotham Fellowship – Alumnus
● GriefShare- Lay Leader, Orlando, FL
● Kiwanis International in Columbus, IN, Clearwater, FL, and Kissimmee, FL – President of local chapters
● Lake Aurora Christian Camp and Retreat Center, Lake Wales, FL
● North American Christian Convention – Steering Committee
● Riverwood Christian Community, Louisville, TN – Founding Board of Directors
● Stephen Ministries – Director, Apopka, FL
Preacher
Harold’s belief in God’s Word drove his commitment to get people into the Word and the Word into people. His sermons were invitations to come closer to Christ, with space to wrestle with grace, and rest in truth.
He preached with a reverence for Scripture and a respect for his listeners. He knew the sacred weight of the pulpit, and he carried it with humility. With only the Bible in hand and without notes, his preaching was rich, but never self-important; thoughtful, but never cold. He wove insight with warmth and truth with tenderness. Whether in a sanctuary on Sunday or a hospital hallway on Tuesday, he preached with his life more than with his words.
Husband and Father
For all his gifts as a pastor, it was at home where Harold’s faith took root in its most personal and tender forms. He was a devoted husband — steady, affectionate, and faithful in love. He delighted in partnering with Marilyn, creating a life together that honored each of their unique gifts. Their marriage was a quiet testament to covenant love — built on deep trust, shared faith, and the joy of serving side by side.
He championed her successes, supported her callings, and together they intentionally walked hand in hand through each season of life.
A shared love of travel took them to five continents and 49 states. They led several tours to Israel, participated in international mission trips, and relished travel with their daughters.
With a footprint in 49 states, favorite family memories were discovering together the breadth of the American story — hiking mountain trails, standing in awe at national landmarks, laughing over roadside picnics. The most meaningful was watching his grown children discover the Holy Land with childlike wonder.
As a father, Harold was encouraging and highly engaged. Not molding his children to fit a pattern, he paid attention to whom they were becoming and helped them flourish. He was always ready to listen, explore, and celebrate his daughters’ pursuits. No matter where Cheli and Cheri’s interests took them, Harold was fully and lovingly present.
His legacy lives most vividly in the ones who knew him best — who were shaped by his leadership, steadied by his wisdom, and deeply loved by his gentle heart.
Harold is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marilyn Morse Armstrong; their daughters, Cheli Sigler (Orlando) and Cheri Novak (Big Bend, WI), spouses Matthew Sigler and Mark Novak, respectively; and their granddaughters, Grace Christine Sigler, Hannah Joy Sigler, and Charlotte Rose Novak. Harold’s surviving siblings are Anna Ownbey (North Vernon, IN), Marvin Armstrong (Davenport, FL), and Ernest Armstrong (Columbus, IN) along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.