Thurston G. Armstrong

Thurston G. Armstrong
November 26th, 1941 - November 1st, 2025
Thurston started life in upstate New York with a very small family. Going through life, he chose more people for a larger family. Thurston was extremely bright, personable, kind, and funny. There were many pages in his life from ham radio operator to electrical engineer to avid vintage radio collector and restorer. Thurston attended college at RPI, where he received his Master's in electrical engineering.
He spent his career in Southern California at Hughes Aircraft. Per his long-time friend Thomas Gooley: Thurston began his engineering career in the 1960s as an electronic circuit design engineer in the Radar and Missile Electronics Labs of the Hughes Aircraft Co. Aerospace Group. He designed solid-state oscillators and frequency multiplier chains along with other microwave-electronic components for radar and missile systems. He designed similar electronic circuits when Hughes began developing Communications Satellites, such as SYNCOM in the 1960s.He was a major contributor to programs with NASA, the US Government, and commercial customers, both US and foreign, as Hughes expanded its communications satellite business in the newly formed Hughes Space and Communications Group in 1970. Thurston progressed with increasing levels of responsibility from Supervisor to Section Head to Department Manager as well as Laboratory Manager, responsible for a staff of over 250 engineers, technicians, and supporting personnel. The lab was responsible for major sub-systems of the payload electronics for the various communications satellite programs. The company and the organizations went through several changes, including name changes, during those years. Thurston retired in the early 2000s as Manager of the Space Electronics Laboratory of the Hughes Space and Communications Company, a unit of the Hughes Electronics Company. When Thurston retired, he spent his time on his many hobbies. He was happiest devoting time to his ham radio. W6NY was his call letters. His other longtime friend Glenn had to say about him: I met Thurston many years ago through our mutual enjoyment of all things ham radio. We just hit it off on a personal level, kindred spirits from different generations. He was a wealth of old-school knowledge that was invaluable to my quest to learn all I could, while I offered him a younger perspective on modern digital circuits, computers, and related software. He could always be depended on to help with our local club's special events and projects, quietly sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm. We made many a long trip together to ham radio swap meets and conventions across the Southeast. He introduced me to the community of antique radio restoration and collection enthusiasts, sparking my passion for continuing the art. I am blessed to have had him in my life. If heaven has a ham radio station, I'm sure he is there, dressed like a turn-of-the-century telegraph operator, sending Morse code across the air with a smile on his face. If it doesn't, it will soon enough. He was a good man, a good friend, and a mentor, and he will be greatly missed.
In his later years, he did what made him feel settled and happy. He lived with his loving family and spent a great deal of time reminiscing about older times, of fountain pens, and ham radios. He was happy with his extended family, and the contact that kept with them always made him satisfied with life. Thurston led a fantastic life, full of an electrical engineer's dreams. He created and fostered many relationships and mentorships throughout his life. He will be greatly missed by all that he touched.