Margaret Jocelyn Armstrong

Margaret Jocelyn Armstrong, 83, of Champaign, passed away at 9:20pm on Thursday, June 11, 2020 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Jocelyn was born on March 16, 1937 in Otahuhu, New Zealand, the daughter of Hector and Marion (Hackell) Dorrington. Jocelyn married R. Warwick Armstrong on Aug. 15, 1959 in Auckland, New Zealand. Warwick passed away on Nov. 13, 2000.

Jocelyn, who most knew as Joce, completed her undergraduate education in liberal arts and sciences at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She then received a Master’s in Library Science and a Ph.D. in Anthropology, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After working as an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Jocelyn was an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at UIUC for many years, conducting fieldwork and research in the US and Malaysia, and among the Māori community of New Zealand.

Jocelyn was an author and co-author of numerous articles and book chapters during her career as a cultural anthropologist, including several with her husband Warwick. She had a life full of family, travel, and academic work that enriched her students and communities around the world. Jocelyn was also a marathon runner, completing 9 marathons, including New York, Chicago, Honolulu, and St. Louis.

Jocelyn is survived by her son, Michael Wayne Armstrong (Tolulope Lukanmbi), her brothers Evan Dorrington (Wynn), Brian Dorrington (Lynn), sister Jenny Colley (Graham), 11 nieces and nephews, 24 great nieces and nephews, and 8 great-great nephews in New Zealand. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, one niece, and one nephew.

Cremation rights have been accorded. There will be no services at this time.

Online condolences may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com

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