Barbara Jones Armstrong, 85, of Guilford, wife of the late Dr. Robert M. Armstrong, died Sept. 1 at her home. Barbara was born May 8, 1928 in Peru, Indiana to John and Flossie (Vandivier) Jones.

Barbara graduated from Western Michigan University and worked as an occupational therapist who enjoyed helping patients solve the challenges of daily living. She returned to working in occupational therapy after her children were grown and particularly enjoyed working in home health care through the Visiting Nurse Association, Guilford.

After moving to Connecticut from Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1959, Barbara and Bob built their home in Wingate, Guilford and the family spent many happy years there. Barbara’s friends were very important to her, in particular Joan and Wayne Downey and Ann and George Aghajanian who were great supports and treasured friends throughout her life. Barbara looked forward to spending time with her good friends in her bridge groups every week. She loved her home, birds and garden. Her grandchildren brought her immense joy and she took great pleasure in watching them grow up.

The family is grateful to all who helped her remain independent, especially Denis Miller, M.D., Kevin Twohig, M.D., Jane Castelot, Pat Dugan and Jerry Saville.

She is survived by her sister Beverly Stuart of Bluffton, South Carolina; her sister-in-law Mary Elizabeth Lyons of Northport, Michigan; her children Kimberly Armstrong Silcox and her husband Dane of West Hartford, Robert A. Armstrong, II, and his wife Katherine of Wilton, and Kathryn Armstrong and her husband Jake Koski of New Haven; and her grandchildren Lindsay Silcox, Rob Silcox, Matthew Silcox, Megan Armstrong, Caroline Armstrong, and Lia Armstrong Koski.

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St, Guilford. Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions in Barbara’s memory be made to the Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St, P.O. Box 589, Guilford, CT 06437 or The American Cancer Society, Meriden Executive Park, 538 Preston Ave, Meriden, CT 06450, www.cancer.org. The Guilford Funeral home is in charge of arrangements. For more information or to send an online condolence for the family visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.