Ralph Criss Armstrong, Sr. was born September 13, 1938 in Grenada, Mississippi. Ralph went home to Jesus at 5:20 in the afternoon of October 4, 2020 while surrounded by his family at his home in Destin, Florida, a place he liked to refer to as Paradise on earth. Ralph was 82 and had battled cancer for over two years.
A church service of remembrance and dedication was held at the Immanuel Anglican Church in Destin, Florida and a graveside service was held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Grenada, Mississippi.
Ralph graduated from Coffeeville High School and went on to graduate from Mississippi State University in mechanical engineering in 1956. He worked for Plough Inc. for many years as a mechanical engineer and corporate construction manager for all of their properties. He developed the first-ever layered tablet for Plough using his inventive production process for “Digel” tablets in the late 1960’s. He was in the Air Force Reserve and was called up for active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in late 1962.
Ralph married his life-long sweetheart, Jeffry Whitaker in September of 1962. They had two children Dr. Ralph (Rafe) Criss Armstrong, Jr. of Grenada, MS., and Jeffry Cali Armstrong Ellison of Destin, FL. His grandchildren include Alexandra Kathleen Armstrong of San Diego, CA., James Henderson of Atlanta, GA., and Zackary Jefferson Armstrong of Orlando FL. Ralph was an avid offshore fisherman and enjoyed his fellowship with the “Fishermen For Christ” bible study group in Destin.
He was predeceased by his parents George Wells and Georgia Armstrong, along with his older sister Ann Armstrong Sides, and his older brother George Wells Armstrong, Jr. His remaining brother Joseph Hill Bates Armstrong gave his eulogy at the church service in Destin, Florida and at the graveside service in Grenada, Mississippi.
Ralph Armstrong was a longtime member of the American Water Ski Association and USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, as well as being one of the sport’s most decorated water ski tournament boat drivers. His involvement in competitive water skiing spanned more than 50 years. He started his career as an accomplished water skier and boat driver in the 1950s and took part in one of the first Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Shows in Wisconsin Dells in 1959. He later stopped skiing competitively and shifted his focus to tournament boat driving. He built his own ski boat in the 1960s and took it to every local tournament. He began travelling the region and driving for skiers at competitions in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Due to his dedication to provide the best experience to every skier he pulled, he became world renowned as a favorite driver of many national and international water skiing champions including national and world record holders while driving in competitions all over the world to include over 20 countries.
In the 1970’s, with the advent of the professional towboat program, Armstrong sold his hand-made boat, purchased a “MasterCraft”, and entered their promotional boat program. For the next half century, he dedicated his driving talents, advice, and expertise to the sport. His career in competitive water skiing includes many distinguished years as a driver in major water ski events. He was selected as a driver for numerous national and international events, including Junior World Championships, World Games, Elite World Championships, Pan American Games, U.S. National Championships and the U.S. Open. He was Chief Driver at the 2005 Elite World Championships and numerous Pan American Championships. He was heavily involved in the adaptive water ski program, serving as a driver at the Disabled World Championships in Australia and numerous U.S. Disabled Water Ski National Championships. Armstrong drove at fifteen U.S. Water Ski National Championships and was a four-time recipient of The Fred Wiley Award for Most Outstanding Driver while serving at these events. In 2008, upon his retirement from driving, he was awarded Senior Driver Emeritus status by the American Water Ski Association board of directors. He was inducted into the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Water Ski Hall of Fame as an Award of Distinction recipient in 2017.
Any special gifts can be made to the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd. #481, Winter Haven, FL 33884, in honor of Ralph’s memory.
A church service of remembrance and dedication was held at the Immanuel Anglican Church in Destin, Florida and a graveside service was held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Grenada, Mississippi.
Ralph graduated from Coffeeville High School and went on to graduate from Mississippi State University in mechanical engineering in 1956. He worked for Plough Inc. for many years as a mechanical engineer and corporate construction manager for all of their properties. He developed the first-ever layered tablet for Plough using his inventive production process for “Digel” tablets in the late 1960’s. He was in the Air Force Reserve and was called up for active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in late 1962.
Ralph married his life-long sweetheart, Jeffry Whitaker in September of 1962. They had two children Dr. Ralph (Rafe) Criss Armstrong, Jr. of Grenada, MS., and Jeffry Cali Armstrong Ellison of Destin, FL. His grandchildren include Alexandra Kathleen Armstrong of San Diego, CA., James Henderson of Atlanta, GA., and Zackary Jefferson Armstrong of Orlando FL. Ralph was an avid offshore fisherman and enjoyed his fellowship with the “Fishermen For Christ” bible study group in Destin.
He was predeceased by his parents George Wells and Georgia Armstrong, along with his older sister Ann Armstrong Sides, and his older brother George Wells Armstrong, Jr. His remaining brother Joseph Hill Bates Armstrong gave his eulogy at the church service in Destin, Florida and at the graveside service in Grenada, Mississippi.
Ralph Armstrong was a longtime member of the American Water Ski Association and USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, as well as being one of the sport’s most decorated water ski tournament boat drivers. His involvement in competitive water skiing spanned more than 50 years. He started his career as an accomplished water skier and boat driver in the 1950s and took part in one of the first Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Shows in Wisconsin Dells in 1959. He later stopped skiing competitively and shifted his focus to tournament boat driving. He built his own ski boat in the 1960s and took it to every local tournament. He began travelling the region and driving for skiers at competitions in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Due to his dedication to provide the best experience to every skier he pulled, he became world renowned as a favorite driver of many national and international water skiing champions including national and world record holders while driving in competitions all over the world to include over 20 countries.
In the 1970’s, with the advent of the professional towboat program, Armstrong sold his hand-made boat, purchased a “MasterCraft”, and entered their promotional boat program. For the next half century, he dedicated his driving talents, advice, and expertise to the sport. His career in competitive water skiing includes many distinguished years as a driver in major water ski events. He was selected as a driver for numerous national and international events, including Junior World Championships, World Games, Elite World Championships, Pan American Games, U.S. National Championships and the U.S. Open. He was Chief Driver at the 2005 Elite World Championships and numerous Pan American Championships. He was heavily involved in the adaptive water ski program, serving as a driver at the Disabled World Championships in Australia and numerous U.S. Disabled Water Ski National Championships. Armstrong drove at fifteen U.S. Water Ski National Championships and was a four-time recipient of The Fred Wiley Award for Most Outstanding Driver while serving at these events. In 2008, upon his retirement from driving, he was awarded Senior Driver Emeritus status by the American Water Ski Association board of directors. He was inducted into the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Water Ski Hall of Fame as an Award of Distinction recipient in 2017.
Any special gifts can be made to the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd. #481, Winter Haven, FL 33884, in honor of Ralph’s memory.
Ralph Criss Armstrong, Sr. was born September 13, 1938 in Grenada, Mississippi. Ralph went home to Jesus at 5:20 in the afternoon of October 4, 2020 while surrounded by his family at his home in Destin, Florida, a place he liked to refer to as Paradise on earth. Ralph was 82 and had battled cancer for over two years.
A church service of remembrance and dedication was held at the Immanuel Anglican Church in Destin, Florida and a graveside service was held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Grenada, Mississippi.
Ralph graduated from Coffeeville High School and went on to graduate from Mississippi State University in mechanical engineering in 1956. He worked for Plough Inc. for many years as a mechanical engineer and corporate construction manager for all of their properties. He developed the first-ever layered tablet for Plough using his inventive production process for “Digel” tablets in the late 1960’s. He was in the Air Force Reserve and was called up for active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in late 1962.
Ralph married his life-long sweetheart, Jeffry Whitaker in September of 1962. They had two children Dr. Ralph (Rafe) Criss Armstrong, Jr. of Grenada, MS., and Jeffry Cali Armstrong Ellison of Destin, FL. His grandchildren include Alexandra Kathleen Armstrong of San Diego, CA., James Henderson of Atlanta, GA., and Zackary Jefferson Armstrong of Orlando FL. Ralph was an avid offshore fisherman and enjoyed his fellowship with the “Fishermen For Christ” bible study group in Destin.
He was predeceased by his parents George Wells and Georgia Armstrong, along with his older sister Ann Armstrong Sides, and his older brother George Wells Armstrong, Jr. His remaining brother Joseph Hill Bates Armstrong gave his eulogy at the church service in Destin, Florida and at the graveside service in Grenada, Mississippi.
Ralph Armstrong was a longtime member of the American Water Ski Association and USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, as well as being one of the sport’s most decorated water ski tournament boat drivers. His involvement in competitive water skiing spanned more than 50 years. He started his career as an accomplished water skier and boat driver in the 1950s and took part in one of the first Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Shows in Wisconsin Dells in 1959. He later stopped skiing competitively and shifted his focus to tournament boat driving. He built his own ski boat in the 1960s and took it to every local tournament. He began travelling the region and driving for skiers at competitions in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Due to his dedication to provide the best experience to every skier he pulled, he became world renowned as a favorite driver of many national and international water skiing champions including national and world record holders while driving in competitions all over the world to include over 20 countries.
In the 1970’s, with the advent of the professional towboat program, Armstrong sold his hand-made boat, purchased a “MasterCraft”, and entered their promotional boat program. For the next half century, he dedicated his driving talents, advice, and expertise to the sport. His career in competitive water skiing includes many distinguished years as a driver in major water ski events. He was selected as a driver for numerous national and international events, including Junior World Championships, World Games, Elite World Championships, Pan American Games, U.S. National Championships and the U.S. Open. He was Chief Driver at the 2005 Elite World Championships and numerous Pan American Championships. He was heavily involved in the adaptive water ski program, serving as a driver at the Disabled World Championships in Australia and numerous U.S. Disabled Water Ski National Championships. Armstrong drove at fifteen U.S. Water Ski National Championships and was a four-time recipient of The Fred Wiley Award for Most Outstanding Driver while serving at these events. In 2008, upon his retirement from driving, he was awarded Senior Driver Emeritus status by the American Water Ski Association board of directors. He was inducted into the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Water Ski Hall of Fame as an Award of Distinction recipient in 2017.
Any special gifts can be made to the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd. #481, Winter Haven, FL 33884, in honor of Ralph’s memory.
A church service of remembrance and dedication was held at the Immanuel Anglican Church in Destin, Florida and a graveside service was held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Grenada, Mississippi.
Ralph graduated from Coffeeville High School and went on to graduate from Mississippi State University in mechanical engineering in 1956. He worked for Plough Inc. for many years as a mechanical engineer and corporate construction manager for all of their properties. He developed the first-ever layered tablet for Plough using his inventive production process for “Digel” tablets in the late 1960’s. He was in the Air Force Reserve and was called up for active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in late 1962.
Ralph married his life-long sweetheart, Jeffry Whitaker in September of 1962. They had two children Dr. Ralph (Rafe) Criss Armstrong, Jr. of Grenada, MS., and Jeffry Cali Armstrong Ellison of Destin, FL. His grandchildren include Alexandra Kathleen Armstrong of San Diego, CA., James Henderson of Atlanta, GA., and Zackary Jefferson Armstrong of Orlando FL. Ralph was an avid offshore fisherman and enjoyed his fellowship with the “Fishermen For Christ” bible study group in Destin.
He was predeceased by his parents George Wells and Georgia Armstrong, along with his older sister Ann Armstrong Sides, and his older brother George Wells Armstrong, Jr. His remaining brother Joseph Hill Bates Armstrong gave his eulogy at the church service in Destin, Florida and at the graveside service in Grenada, Mississippi.
Ralph Armstrong was a longtime member of the American Water Ski Association and USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, as well as being one of the sport’s most decorated water ski tournament boat drivers. His involvement in competitive water skiing spanned more than 50 years. He started his career as an accomplished water skier and boat driver in the 1950s and took part in one of the first Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Shows in Wisconsin Dells in 1959. He later stopped skiing competitively and shifted his focus to tournament boat driving. He built his own ski boat in the 1960s and took it to every local tournament. He began travelling the region and driving for skiers at competitions in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Due to his dedication to provide the best experience to every skier he pulled, he became world renowned as a favorite driver of many national and international water skiing champions including national and world record holders while driving in competitions all over the world to include over 20 countries.
In the 1970’s, with the advent of the professional towboat program, Armstrong sold his hand-made boat, purchased a “MasterCraft”, and entered their promotional boat program. For the next half century, he dedicated his driving talents, advice, and expertise to the sport. His career in competitive water skiing includes many distinguished years as a driver in major water ski events. He was selected as a driver for numerous national and international events, including Junior World Championships, World Games, Elite World Championships, Pan American Games, U.S. National Championships and the U.S. Open. He was Chief Driver at the 2005 Elite World Championships and numerous Pan American Championships. He was heavily involved in the adaptive water ski program, serving as a driver at the Disabled World Championships in Australia and numerous U.S. Disabled Water Ski National Championships. Armstrong drove at fifteen U.S. Water Ski National Championships and was a four-time recipient of The Fred Wiley Award for Most Outstanding Driver while serving at these events. In 2008, upon his retirement from driving, he was awarded Senior Driver Emeritus status by the American Water Ski Association board of directors. He was inducted into the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Water Ski Hall of Fame as an Award of Distinction recipient in 2017.
Any special gifts can be made to the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd. #481, Winter Haven, FL 33884, in honor of Ralph’s memory.
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