William "Bill" Strickland Sr

Mr. William (Bill) E Strickland, Sr., age 90 of Youngstown FL, born to Enoch Elroy Strickland and Mae Frances Strickland (Beck) (Jacksonville AL) passed away Wednesday, March 15 2023 at the Chester Sims Veteran Nursing Home.  He was a long-time resident of Bay County and resided on Campflowers Road since 1975 after retiring from the United States Air Force in 1974. 

Mr. Strickland was 24-year USAF veteran and retired at the grade of Senior Master Sargent.  He served in numerous stateside and overseas locations.  A few of his USAF assignments include Tyndall AFB FL, Gunter AFB AL, England AFB LA, Eielson AFB AK, Elmendorf AK, Thailand, Germany, Great Britain, North Africa.

Mr. Strickland was a devout  Christian and attended the Harvest Worship Center, and Bear Creek Assembly of God churches.   Mr. Strickland often served as a deacon at the churches he regularly worshiped.  Mr. Strickland was also an ordained minister and ministered to veterans at the Chester Sims VA nursing home where he would later become a resident himself.

Mr. Strickland is survived by Geraldine Strickland (Bertok) his second wife of 29 years; his son Bill Strickland Jr, wife Sandi their children Billy III (wife April) and David (wife Anita); His step-son Steve Bertok, wife Cynthia and their children Jessica Bertok (husband Curtis Lofgren) and Jennifer McCann; his step-son Mike Bertok. He is preceded in death by his first wife of 36 years Mary Ann Strickland (Denton), and two of his sons Larry Strickland and Danny Strickland.  Mr. Strickland is also preceded in death by his brother Thomas Strickland and wife Kitty, His sisters Jean Alexander and husband Jack, Patricia French and husband Johnny, Dorothy Allen-Butler and husband Gordon.  Mr. Strickland is also survived by 12 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews many living in the local area, they visited and helped their uncle often.

Funeral services include a visitation, a religion service, and entombment with military honors.  The family will receive friends at the Kent-Forest Funeral Home on 23rd Street Monday, 20 March from 1-2 pm.  The visitation will be followed by a short Christian service in the Kent-Forest chapel at 2 pm, Pastor John Ramsey from the Harvest Worship Center will be officiating.  Entombment  with full military honors will follow with a police escort to the Garden of Memories cemetery on 15th Street.  Following the entombment, friends and family are invited to a memorial social hosted by the Gateway Church at 3129 E 5th St. there will be food and beverages.