William C. Armstrong III passed peacefully on Sunday August 28th, with his wife, family and friends by his side at his home in Windsor, MA. Born in Pittsfield, MA on May 20, 1966, Bill grew up in West Stockbridge, MA where he attended local schools, graduating from Monument Mountain High School in 1984. Shortly after graduating from high school Bill joined the Sheet Metal Union, Local 63. Bill remained with the Union for almost 30 years until his recent retirement, working the past 25 years with Titan Roofing, Inc. He loved working with the Pazmino family at Titan and the brothers he met through the Union. WWBAD was, and is, a known acronym for "What Would Billy Armstrong Do?" All of Bill's Union brothers, friends and family knew this inside joke and can attest to seeing this mark, possibly at a local establishment or job site. Bill was such a fun loving, happy, giving person and this was shown by the endless amounts of friends and family who came to see him before he passed.
Bill grew up hunting in the Berkshire's and beyond with his father William C. Armstrong Jr. who was known not only locally but throughout New England for his hunting and tracking abilities. Bill also spent his youth with his cousins from Lenox, often riding his bike from his home in West Stockbridge to get there. Being an only child, Bill's cousins were like his brothers and sisters and they all loved each other without limits. Ricky, Harold, Heather, Michelle, Eddie, Maureen, Mark, Doug, and Mike, the Armstrong's are a strong, amazing family and Bill was so lucky to have them all in his life.
Bill was an avid motorcyclist and a Ford enthusiast. Bill began riding bikes at the age of seven and the Armstrong family has a history rich in car racing, from Bill's own Grampa Bill, to his beloved Uncle Danny. Bill loved his '68 Shelby, having shown it at car shows and competed locally in autocross and drag racing. Whether it was bikes or cars, if it had wheels, Bill would bring it home (and sometimes park in the spare bedroom). He loved being in his garage at home and working on his bikes and cars. It was a true labor of love. Once the warm weather was here, he would often get up before dawn, walk a bike down the driveway, so as not to disturb the neighbors, and go for a morning ride. It
may have been to a flea market, a swap meet, or just out and about, he loved to ride.
Bill introduced this love of two wheels, being outdoors and Flat Track motorcycle racing to his true love and soul mate, his wife, Kimberly Armstrong, whom he married on
June 6, 2009. Bill and Kim were best friends, spending time together traveling, antiquing and just being home with their beloved pups and cat; Piper Jane, Waymore, Fidget and Rex. Bill and Kim made sure to make it to at least one national FT race a year, if not more. It brought such joy to Bill seeing the bikes racing down the track, turning a corner with one foot down, the smell of rubber and oil in the air was like nothing else in the world.
Bill loved being a sheet metal worker and mentoring not only the apprentices he met but other friends, as well. He had a real knack for making an impact on people, without even knowing it. He didn't realize how much people looked up to him and he always felt humbled and honored to hear someone tell him how he affected their life. He had so many great and long-standing friendships and would want to say a special thank you and express his love for: Wayne and Tammy Poirier, Sharilyn Allen and Ben Moir along with his nephews Galin and Rogan, Mike and Becky Lafleur, Gary Roy and Paula King, Mary Putnam and Eddie Wbra and the entire Wbra/O'Neil families, Stanley and Laura Lynde, Jamey and Amanda Chmielinski, Bill and Nancy Salvatore, Frank Love, Doug Love, Jeff Wright, and his "brother from another mother," Michael Donnelly.
Bill leaves behind his beloved wife, the former Kimberly Strack, along with his mother- in-law, Mee Strack; sisters-in-law, Lisa, April and Lynn Strack; brother-in-law Peter
Strack (Susan) along with their children Ashley, Kyle and Mitchell; brother-in-law
Richard Strack (Ashley) along with their son Ricky; as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins with the Strack family. He is also survived by his Uncle Dan Armstrong; Aunt Pam Lang (Glenn); lifetime friend Sharilyn Allen and her husband Ben Moir along with his Canadian nephews Galin and Rogan; cousins Lauren and Alana Lang; Kristy Bedford (Chris) along with their children Cole, Drew and Garrett; Rick Armstrong Jr. (Pam) along with their children Ricky III, who was also Bill's Godson, Nathan and Brendan; Harold Armstrong and his partner Rachael Baumann along with Harold's daughter Olivia; Heather Drake (John); Michelle Sargis (Steven) along with their children Christopher, Alyssa and Kayla; Maureen Tuggey (Rick), Doug Armstrong (Allyson) and their children Kayla and Zachary; Mark Armstrong (Cindy) and their children Nicole and Dale; Edward Armstrong (Nichelle) along with their children Jacob, David and Ryan; and Mike Armstrong (Wendy) along their children Kim and Kacie. Bill is predeceased by his paternal Grandfather William C. Armstrong Sr., his maternal grandmother Mary "Mimi" Armstrong, his father William C. Armstrong Jr., and his father-in-law Harry Strack, as well as many aunts and uncles.

Funeral Notice -- A Celebration of Life will be held at the Dalton American Legion, in Dalton, MA on Sunday, September 25, 2016 from 1:00-4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory may be made to Irie's Pet Food Pantry, P.O. Box 63, Stockbridge, MA 01262 or in care of DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford Street Pittsfield, which is handling arrangements.

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