Margaret D. “Peggy” Armstrong, former vice president of communications for the International Dairy Foods Association and a past press secretary to Washington Mayor Anthony A. Williams, died May 21 from cancer at Sibley Hospital in Washington. The former Towson resident was 63.

Margaret Dolores Armstrong was born in Baltimore and raised in Towson. Her parents were Dr. Albert B. Armstrong, a veterinarian, and Dolores E. Armstrong, who worked in her husband’s Towson veterinary practice.

Ms. Armstrong was a 1972 graduate of Towson High School and obtained a bachelor’s degree in 1976 from the University of Maryland, College Park.

During the 1980s, she worked for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where she wrote and produced nationally televised programs that supported social services activities.

From 1991 to 1995, Ms. Armstrong was publications manager for the Enterprise Foundation in Columbia. In 1995, she moved to Washington and worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and for the District of Columbia city government.

From 1998 to 2003, she served as communications director, press secretary and policy adviser for Mayor Anthony A. Williams.

She then worked as vice president of communications for the International Dairy Foods Association, a position she held from 2007 until stepping down last year.

Ms. Armstrong was a lifelong animal lover. She also enjoyed international travel and shopping.

A celebration of life service for Ms. Armstrong will be held at 3 p.m. June 8 at the Washington Ethical Society, 7750 16th St., N.W., Washington.

She is survived by a sister, Barbara Armstrong Green of Silver Spring; and many nieces and nephews.

— Frederick N. Rasmussen