It is with sadness that I share the news of the passing of Dr. David A.
Armour.  Although he was most known for his work as Deputy Director of
the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, early members of the SHA will
remember that he was the editor of Historical Archaeology for several
years early in the journal's history.  The obituary below was provided
by his wife, Grace.

Lynn Evans

Obituary of David Arthur Armour
David A. Armour who was 72 years of age, suffered a long fight with
cancer was taken to glory by his Lord on April 28, 2010. He was the son
of Arthur and Marian Bowie Armour from Grove City. He was a loving
husband, father and Opa to his wife Grace (they celebrated their 50th
Wedding Anniversary last August), 4 children and 7 grandchildren, Marian
Armour-Gemmen and Randall, Angelyn and Ellena (Morgantown, WV); Arthur
Armour and Rebecca Lew, Samuel and John (Portland, OR); David Armour and
Joanna Tong, David, Keith and Michael (Bellevue, WA); Anneke Myers and
Matthew (Mackinac Island, MI). Two sisters and one brother, Nancy and
Doug Johnson (Davidsonville, MD), Tom and Lois Armour (Grove City, PA)
and Maryann and Al Fearon (Bolivar, OH). His in-laws Alice and Bill
Heese (Akron, OH), Ed (deceased) and Jan Lootsma (Mystic, CT), Els
(deceased) and Gys Kooy (Wyckoff, NJ), Wayne Lootsma (deceased), Henry
and Grace Lootsma (Prospect Park, NJ) and Ann and John Barr
(Bridgewater, VA) with numerous nieces and nephews.
He was a servant of the Lord and loved by many who were his brothers
and sisters in Christ.
He attended Grove City schools, went on to Calvin College in Grand
Rapids, MI, attended his Jr. year at the University of London and
graduated in 1959. He then went on to receive his Masters and Ph.D. in
History at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He was on the
faculty of the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI for 4 years.
David was hired by the Mackinac Island State Historic Parks Commission
to be the Deputy Director, which position he held for 36 years (Acting
Director 2 times). He resided along with his family in Lansing and
spring/summers on Mackinac Island, MI, which he loved and cherished. He
occasionally taught courses in Colonial American History at Calvin
College, Grand Rapids, MI.
He had a ministry with the Hmong Christian Ministry in Grand Ledge and
Lansing and on Mackinac Island worked with the college students and
Jamaican workers in leading and participating in their worship services.
He was an elder at River Terrace Church in East Lansing and later at
Covenant CRC in Grand Ledge, MI. While living on Mackinac Island he
attended Trinity Episcopal Church and was on the vestry.
He is the author of 7 books (three award winning) and 60+ articles and
book reviews. He restored or reconstructed 40+ historic buildings. He
obtained and administered $7,000,000+ in grants.
The following honors were bestowed on him: Michigan Society of
Architects: Honorary Affiliate Member; Michigan Historic Preservation
Network – 2002 Building Award; Fort Mackinac Restoration Engineering
Society of Detroit – Construction and Design Award; Historical Society
of Michigan Award of Merit for Distinguished Professional Service;
Michigan Museum Association – President’s Award for Distinguished
Service to Museums.
Dr. Armour was the Seminar Director for Smithsonian Journeys
(Washington, DC) on Mackinac Island for several occasions, the last one
being in August 2008.
He was the consultant on numerous and various projects dealing with a
wide variety of archaeological and historical restorations. He was the
Editor of Historical Archaeology for 4 years in its very beginnings.
Upon his retirement in 2003, he received many honors, including the
Governor Granholm’s attendance and presentation of recognition of his
outstanding services to the state of Michigan, Michigan Legislature
Award and the City of Mackinac Island presented by Mayor Doud.
Along with Grace, he moved back to Grove City in 2004. As a leading
authority in Colonial American History he taught classes at Grove City
College and oversaw special historical research by students. He also
taught history to homeschooled neighborhood children and English to
foreign exchange students. He was named Adjunct Professor at Grove City
College in 2007. He enjoyed his fellowship at Covenant OP church and
loved hosting college students into his home.
In 2008 he was honored by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission who
named the Mill Creek Visitors Center in Mackinaw City, MI in his memory,
“The David A. Armour Visitors Center”, on which he directed
restoration, re-construction, construction and interpretative projects
from the very beginning.
He had a rich life blessed by God. He had a love for all people and was
loved by many.
Memorial Services will be held at Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church
in Grove City on Monday, May 3 at 5:30pm. The family will receive
friends at their home 432 West Washington Blvd. on Sunday, May 2 from
3-5 and 7-9.
There will also be a memorial service at River Terrace Church in East
Lansing, MI on Wednesday, May 5 at 4:00pm. The final internment will be
on Mackinac Island in the spring time with services to be announced at a
later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the following:
Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church (outreach) 140 East Poplar Street,
Grove City, PA 16127; Hmong Christian Ministry, 3400 Wainwright Ave.,
Lansing, MI 48911 or the Mackinac Associates P. O. Box 567, Mackinaw
City, MI 49701 with the donations going to Mill Creek Park.
Arrangements are made with Cunningham Funeral Home, Grove City, PA.




Lynn L.M. Evans, Ph.D.
Curator of Archaeology
Mackinac State Historic Parks
P.O. Box 873
Mackinaw City, MI 49701
231-436-4100
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