Exhibit 24.1 

  
POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director and/or officer of
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (the "Company") hereby constitutes and
appoints George A. Lorch, Frank A. Riddick and Larry A. Pulkrabek, and each of
them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution in each, for the undersigned in his or
her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities (including the
undersigned's capacity as a director and/or officer of the Company), granting
unto said attorneys in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing and to execute any and
all instruments which said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable the Company to
comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations
or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in
connection with the registration under said Act of up to $500,000,000 aggregate
amount of Securities (which may include senior or subordinated debt securities,
preferred stock, common stock or depositary shares or securities convertible
into preferred stock, common stock or depositary shares) and the offering
thereof, in one or more series, on a delayed or continuous basis, as fully to
all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person,
including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in the capacity of
director and/or officer of the Company to any registration statement to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of said Securities, to
any and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statements,
including post-effective amendments thereto, and to any instruments or documents
filed as part of or in connection with any such registration statements or
amendments or supplements thereto, and to file such documents with the
Securities and Exchange Commission; and to do any and all acts and things and to
execute any and all instruments that said attorneys and agents and each of them
may deem necessary or desirable to enable the Company to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, including specifically, but
without limiting the generality of foregoing, power and authority to sign the
name of the undersigned director and/or officer in such capacity, to any
application, report, instrument, certificate, form or other document, and any
and all supplements and amendments thereto, to be filed on behalf of said
corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and the undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any
of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has subscribed these presents on the date
set forth opposite his or her name below.

Date: April 29, 1996 ________________________________


            Signature                          Title
            ---------                          -----

/s/ George A. Lorch              Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
- -------------------------        Executive Officer
    George A. Lorch


See Schedule A                   See Schedule A to Exhibit 24.1
to Exhibit 24.1


 
                          SCHEDULE A TO EXHIBIT 24.1

     Pursuant to Instruction 2 to Item 601 of Regulation S-K, the Powers
of Attorney executed by the following directors and officers of the Company,
which are substantially identical in all material respects except as to the
executing party to the Power of Attorney set forth in Exhibit 24.1, are
identified in this Schedule A to Exhibit 24.1.
     



/s/ Frank A. Riddick, III        Senior Vice-President, Finance, and Chief 
- -------------------------        Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
    Frank A. Riddick, III


/s/ Bruce A. Leech, Jr.          Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)  
- -------------------------                                                       
    Bruce A. Leech, Jr.


/s/ H. Jesse Arnelle             Director
- -------------------------
    H. Jesse Arnelle


/s/  Van C. Campbell             Director
- -------------------------
     Van C. Campbell


/s/ Donald C. Clark              Director
- -------------------------
    Donald C. Clark


/s/ E. Allen Deaver              Director
- -------------------------
    E. Allen Deaver


/s/ Ursala F. Fairbairn          Director
- -------------------------
    Ursala F. Fairbairn


/s/ James E. Marley              Director
- -------------------------
    James E. Marley


/s/ J. Philip Samper             Director
- -------------------------
    J. Philip Samper


/s/ Jerre L. Stead               Director
- -------------------------
    Jerre L. Stead