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Donald Fraser Armstrong
September 10, 1924 - October 1, 2016
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<div itemprop="description">Armstrong, Donald Fraser‎ - <br>Peacefully in his 93rd year, surrounded by members of his family, at his home at the Waterford residences in Kingston. He is survived by his daughter, Donna (Hugh), sons Roy (Marion) and Fraser (Anna), and his grandchildren, Jacqueline, Nicholas, Spencer, Sydney, Jessica, Rowan and Joshua. Predeceased by his wives, Jacqueline Sally Cossette‎ (15 years ago), and Eileen Ulrich (three years ago). <br> <br>Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Donald moved to Kingston with his parents and sister, Helen, when his father, R. Fraser Armstrong, became superintendent of the Kingston General Hospital. Donald was a graduate of KCVI, and, after attending Queen’s University for a year, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery. (Notwithstanding his repeated attempts to qualify for pilot training, Donald never quite met the eyesight standard, no matter how many carrots he consumed. He never quite liked carrots again). Donald served as a Surveyor and Dispatch Rider in the First Canadian Army during the Battle of the Scheldt, which liberated the Netherlands during World War II (or "the Big One," as he liked to refer to it). The war ended prior to his deployment to the Pacific theatre. <br> <br>After his return to Canada, he reenrolled in Queen's University, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (Electrical Engineering) graduating Class of 1947½. He was hired by Alcan for his first assignment as a young engineer at Alcan's Shawinigan, QC smelter, where he met Jacqueline. He rose through the ranks at Alcan, serving as Chief Extrusion Engineer at the Kingston Works, and later with Alcan International in Montreal, where he traveled the globe establishing a number of aluminum extrusion facilities for Alcan affiliates in Europe, South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. He returned to Kingston in 1972, assuming the position of Chief Engineer, Alcan Canada Products Ltd. There, he developed the "Armstrong Puller", the first computer-controlled extrusion press handling system, a significant innovation in the aluminum industry, and the first machine of its kind in Canadian history. <br>Never one to turn down a project, Donald moved south after a few years of retirement from Alcan, and joined Cressona Aluminum as VP Production and Engineering at its head office in Pennsylvania. His expertise contributed to Cressona becoming the largest privately held aluminum extruder in North America. He and Jacqueline later retired to Cape Coral, Florida in 1996. Throughout his time in the United States, Donald enjoyed following American politics, and made sure to finalize his US citizenship in order to vote for presidential candidate Barack Obama. <br> <br>An avid boater, RV-tripper and woodworker, and sometimes golfer,‎ Don was a steady, trustworthy, and honourable part of the Kingston community for many decades. A determined walker, cyclist and swimmer, he loved diving off his cruiser in Sand Bay and other area waters, with his beloved Irish setter, Shannon, jumping in alongside. The family would like to thank Dr. Brian Kain and the nursing staff of "The Birches" at Waterford Seniors' Residence for their care and support. <br> <br>The family will receive friends at the Robert J. Reid and Sons, "The Chapel on the Corner" 309 Johnson St. (at Barrie St.) on Tuesday, October 4th, 2016, from 10 AM until the time of the service in the chapel at 11 AM. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to Hospice Kingston would be appreciated. <br></div>