Jospeh M. Armbruster, 80, of Vero Beach, FL, formerly of Lighthouse Pt and Miami, FL made peace with his Maker on Sunday, February 26, 2012. He died at his home after a long battle with complications of a spinal cord injury.

He was born in Miami, FL on January 10, 1932 to Joseph M. Bruster Sr. and June (Hahn) Armbruster. He was a creative, prolific inventor throughout a colorful career, being awarded more than forty US mechanical and design patents for a wide range of hardware and automotive products.

In the late 1950's he stated Coventry Motors in Miami; at 21 he was the youngest foreign car dealership owner in the US. He later built automobile air conditioning systems, before there was such a thing as factory air at CoolAire Manufacturing in Hollywood, FL with an assembly plant in Dunstable, England.

In 1966 he retired at 34 to Waynesville, North Carolina, and took up building and racing Formula Fords in the SCCA circuit, where his team had many first place wins and two championships.

In 1975 he returned to Florida and resumed his inventing career until he again retired in 2001. During his active years he was an avid yachtsman and fisherman, gaining notoriety in the waters off the Florida Keys and Bimini. He was a member of the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, and the Cat Cay Club in the Bahamas.

He moved to Vero Beach, FL in 2001 shortly after he learned of his spinal cord injury.

He possessed a brilliant mind, and a quick, often ribald, sense of humor, which became overshadowed with anger and bitterness from the irreversible deterioration of his physical condition over his last years. With the help of his friends and chaplain he was able to work through this and prepare for his heavenly journey.

He is survived by his wife Sue Copleand Armbruster; daughters Martha Jo Bittle (Chuck) of Jupiter Farms, FL, and Janice Louise Friscia (Vince) of Lake Worth; Linda E. Price of Miami; and son Paul M. Armbruster of Lighthouse Pt, FL; granddaughter Briana Calzada (Ismael) and great-granddaughter Addison; grandsons S/Sgt. Nicholas Hass, Chad, Josh and Sam Bubis; brother-in-law Dan Lewis and nephews Danny, Larry and Brad Lewis and their families of Live Oak, FL.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Jean Lewis; his son Joseph Michael, and daughter Sandy.

He enjoyed the companionship of his loving and loyal pet, Daphne, over the last ten years.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 2-4PM at Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach. A memorial will being at 2:30 PM with a reception to follow.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach. An online guestbook is available at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.