he Virginian-Pilot, (Norfolk, VA) - July 4, 2000

Robert Benjamin Armistead Jr., 64, a native of Portsmouth, died at his home July 1, 2000.

He was the son of the late Robert Benjamin Armistead Sr. and Olivia Boughton Armistead. He was a graduate of Cradock High School and the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship School. He was retired from the Sheet Metal Shop No. 17 of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard after 32 years of service. He served in the United States Air Force and was a member of the Air Force Band, playing saxophone, clarinet and bassoon. In high school and prior to joining the Air Force, he organized and led ''The Bob Armistead Jazztet'' band. He was a member of Cradock Baptist Church. He was a former member of the Cradock DeMolay Chapter and the Cradock Jaycees.

He is survived by a son, Benjamin Thomas Armistead of Madison, Wis., and his wife, Heather; three sisters, Martha Armistead Owens of Virginia Beach and her husband, Joseph James Owens Jr., Grace M. Armistead of Portsmouth and Marie Armistead Parr and her husband, Albert Leslie Parr, of Virginia Beach; three nieces, Kathryn Owens Rusnak, Ashley Parr Henderson and Lesley Marie Parr; and two nephews, Joseph James Owens III and Jeffrey Laurence Owens.

A graveside burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. at Cradock Baptist Church, to be conducted by Dr. David R. Denny, with visitation to follow. Loving Funeral Home is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.